Antibodies and use thereof

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to specific antibodies and use thereof, such as for identifying and/or quantifying liraglutide fibrils and/or semaglutide fibrils.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/836,064, filed Mar. 31, 2020, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/827,444, filed Apr. 1,2019; the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates to antibodies specific to fibrils ofliraglutide or to fibrils of semaglutide as well as use of suchantibodies.

SEQUENCE LISTING

The instant application contains a Sequence Listing which has beensubmitted in ASCII format via EFS-Web and is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety. Said ASCII copy, created on Oct. 4, 2021, isnamed 190042US03_SeqList.txt and is 112 kilobytes in size.

BACKGROUND

Human GLP-1(7-37) and analogues thereof are known to be prone to formvarious types of aggregates in solution. A particular type of suchaggregates, referred to as fibrils herein, are believed to beirreversibly formed and should be kept at a minimum in drug products foradministration to patients in liquid form. Until now, preferred methodsfor assaying (i.e. identifying and/or quantifying) such fibrils arebased on Thioflavin T (ThT) which is a fluorophore changing emissionspectrum upon binding to fibrils, see e.g. Assay (V) herein. Assaysdetecting peptide fibrils via ThT often involves first stressing thesamples to amplify the amount of fibrils to allow detection, suchapplication of stress is undesired and time-consuming. Means to identifysuch peptide fibrils with higher sensitivity, also in mixturescomprising the soluble form of the peptide, are desired.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments the invention relates to an antibody bindingliraglutide fibrils, wherein said fibrils are prepared according toAssay (I) herein. In some embodiments the invention relates to anantibody binding semaglutide fibrils, wherein said fibrils are preparedaccording to Assay (II) herein. In some embodiments the inventionrelates to an antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, wherein said fibrilsare optionally prepared according to Assay (I) herein and said antibodyhas a level of binding to liraglutide fibrils which is at least 10 timeshigher than the level of binding of said antibody to solubleliraglutide, wherein said level of binding is determined according toAssay (III) at a liraglutide fibril concentration of at least 25 μM. Insome embodiments the invention relates to an antibody bindingliraglutide fibrils, wherein said fibrils are optionally preparedaccording to Assay (I) herein and said antibody has a detection limitfor liraglutide fibrils at a concentration at least 10 times lower thanthe detection limit for liraglutide fibrils in a ThT assay, wherein saiddetection limit is determined according to Assay (VI) herein at aliraglutide fibril concentration of at least 1 μM. In some embodimentsthe invention relates to an antibody binding liraglutide fibrils,wherein said fibrils are optionally prepared according to Assay (I)herein and said antibody has a level of binding to liraglutide fibrilswhich is at least 5 times higher than the level of binding of saidantibody to soluble liraglutide, wherein said antibody has a purity ofabove 95% monomer and wherein said level of binding is determinedaccording to Assay (III-B) herein at a liraglutide fibril concentrationof at least 30 μM. In some embodiments the invention relates to anantibody binding liraglutide fibrils, wherein said fibrils areoptionally prepared according to Assay (I) herein and said antibody hasa detection limit for liraglutide fibrils at a concentration at least 10times lower than the detection limit for liraglutide fibrils in a ThTassay, wherein said antibody has a purity of above 95% monomer andwherein said detection limit is determined according to Assay (VI-B)herein at a liraglutide fibril concentration of at least 0.025 μM.

In some embodiments the invention relates to an antibody bindingliraglutide fibrils, wherein the variable region of the heavy chain ofsaid antibody comprises a CDR3 sequence and said CDR3 sequence isselected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 37, 43, 49, 55, 61, 67,73, 79, 85, 91, 97, 103, or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 aminoacid substitutions, deletions or insertions. In some embodiments theinvention relates to an antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, whereinthe variable region of the heavy chain of said antibody comprises a CDR3sequence and said CDR3 sequence is selected from the group consisting ofSEQ ID NO: 115 and 121, or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 aminoacid substitutions, deletions or insertions. In some embodiments theinvention relates to an antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, whereinthe variable region of the heavy chain of said antibody comprises aCDR1, a CDR2, and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the group consistingof: SEQ ID NO: 37, 38 and 39; SEQ ID NO: 43, 44 and 45; SEQ ID NO: 49,50 and 51; SEQ ID NO: 55, 56 and 57; SEQ ID NO: 61, 62 and 63; SEQ IDNO: 67, 68 and 69; SEQ ID NO: 73, 74 and 75; SEQ ID NO: 79, 80 and 81;SEQ ID NO: 85, 86 and 87; SEQ ID NO: 91, 92 and 93; SEQ ID NO: 97, 98and 99; SEQ ID NO: 103, 104 and 105; or any of said sequences with 1, 2or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions or insertions. In someembodiments the invention relates to an antibody binding liraglutidefibrils, wherein the variable region of the heavy chain of said antibodycomprises a CDR1, a CDR2, and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the groupconsisting of: SEQ ID NO: 115, 116 and 117; SEQ ID NO: 121, 122, 123; orany of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletionsor insertions. In some embodiments the invention relates to an antibodybinding liraglutide fibrils, wherein the variable region of the lightchain of said antibody comprises a CDR1, a CDR2, and/or a CDR3 sequenceselected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 40, 41 and 42; SEQ IDNO: 46, 47 and 48; SEQ ID NO: 52, 53 and 54; SEQ ID NO: 58, 59 and 60;SEQ ID NO: 64, 65 and 66; SEQ ID NO: 70, 71 and 72; SEQ ID NO: 76, 77and 78; SEQ ID NO: 82, 83 and 84; SEQ ID NO: 88, 89 and 90; SEQ ID NO:94, 95 and 96; SEQ ID NO: 100, 101 and 102; SEQ ID NO: 106, 107 and 108;or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions,deletions or insertions. In some embodiments the invention relates to anantibody binding liraglutide fibrils, wherein the variable region of thelight chain of said antibody comprises a CDR1, a CDR2, and/or a CDR3sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 118, 119 and120; SEQ ID NO: 124, 125 and 126; or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or3 amino acid substitutions, deletions or insertions.

In some embodiments the invention relates to an antibody bindingliraglutide fibrils, wherein said antibody comprises a variable regionof the heavy chain as defined in any one of the preceding embodimentsand a variable region of the light chain as defined herein. In someembodiments the invention relates to an antibody binding liraglutidefibrils, wherein said antibody comprises a sequence selected from thegroup consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12;or any of said sequences with up to 20, such as up to 15 or up to 10,amino acid substitutions, deletions or insertions. In some embodimentsthe invention relates to an antibody binding liraglutide fibrils,wherein said antibody comprises a sequence selected from the groupconsisting of SEQ ID NO: 109 and 110; or any of said sequences with upto 20, such as up to 15 or up to 10, amino acid substitutions, deletionsor insertions. In some embodiments the invention relates to an antibodybinding liraglutide fibrils, wherein said antibody has at least 80%,such as at least 90% or at least 95%, sequence identity to a sequenceselected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,9, 10, 11 and 12. In some embodiments the invention relates to anantibody binding liraglutide fibrils, wherein said antibody has at least80%, such as at least 90% or at least 95%, sequence identity to asequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 109 and 110.

In some embodiments the invention relates to an antibody bindingliraglutide fibrils, wherein said antibody comprises a variable lightchain (VL) sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 13,15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 111 and 113; or any of saidsequences with up to 20, such as up to 15 or up to 10, amino acidsubstitutions, deletions or insertions. In some embodiments theinvention relates to an antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, whereinsaid antibody comprises a variable heavy chain (VH) sequence selectedfrom the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28,30, 32, 34, 36, 112 and 114; or any of said sequences with up to 20,such as up to 15 or up to 10, amino acid substitutions, deletions orinsertions.

In some embodiments the invention relates to use of an antibody asdefined herein for identification of liraglutide fibrils or semaglutidefibrils. In some embodiments the invention relates to methods foridentifying liraglutide fibrils or semaglutide fibrils, said methodcomprising the step of a) binding the antibody as defined herein toliraglutide fibrils or semaglutide fibrils. In some embodiments theinvention relates to methods for quantifying liraglutide fibrils orsemaglutide fibrils, said method comprising the step of a) binding theantibody as defined herein to liraglutide fibrils or semaglutidefibrils.

In some embodiments the invention relates to use of an antibody asdefined herein for purification of liraglutide or semaglutide by removalor reduction of fibrils thereof by immobilisation of the antibody to asolid surface, e.g. a chromatographic or membrane surface creating anaffinity surface, and exposing a mixture comprising both fibrils andsoluble form of liraglutide or semaglutide the surface resulting inisolation of the fibrils or part thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows analytical size-exclusion chromatography of selectedantibody variants, E, M and N.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to antibodies which specifically bind tofibrils of the GLP-1 receptor agonist liraglutide or semaglutide.Liraglutide and semaglutide are analogues of human GLP-1(7-37) and aretherapeutic peptides commercially available in the form of solutions.Fibrils of liraglutide or semaglutide are undesired in drug products.Thus, the antibodies of the invention will allow distinguishing fibrilsof liraglutide or semaglutide from their soluble form. Such antibodiesof the invention have several technical benefits, including allowingidentification and/or quantification of such fibrils, optionally in amixture with their soluble form, and providing means for ensuringsufficient quality of a drug product comprising liraglutide orsemaglutide. In some embodiments the antibodies of the present inventionallow isolation, or partly isolation, of liraglutide fibrils from amixture of soluble liraglutide. Such isolation may be performed byimmobilisation to a solid surface, e.g. a chromatographic column,filter, or membrane. In some embodiments the antibodies of the presentinvention allow sensitive assays for detecting extremely low levels ofpeptide fibrils, optionally in the presence of a great excess of thesoluble form of the peptide. In some embodiments the term “fibrils”,“peptide fibrils”, also in relation to the specific peptides liraglutideor semaglutide, refer to a type of aggregate which may be obtainedaccording to Assay (I) herein for liraglutide or according to Assay (II)herein for semaglutide, such fibrils are visible as in the shape of thinthreads using e.g transmission electron microscopy.

The present inventors surprisingly found that the antibodies of theinvention are at least 100-fold, and perhaps even at least-1000 fold,more sensitive for detecting fibrils compared to a ThT Assay, such as aThT assay without shaking, e.g. Assay (V) herein.

In some embodiments the invention relates to an antibody bindingliraglutide fibrils. In some embodiments the invention relates to anantibody binding liraglutide fibrils, wherein said fibrils are preparedaccording to Assay (I) herein. In some embodiments the invention relatesto an antibody binding semaglutide fibrils. In some embodiments theinvention relates to an antibody binding semaglutide fibrils, whereinsaid fibrils are prepared according to Assay (II) herein. In someembodiments the antibody has a detection limit for liraglutide fibrilsat a concentration at least 10 times, such as at least 100 times or atleast 1000 times, lower than the detection limit for liraglutide fibrilsin a ThT assay, said detection limit optionally determined according toAssay (VI) herein. In some embodiments the antibody has a level ofbinding to liraglutide fibrils which is at least 10 times higher, suchas at least 20 times higher or at least 50 times higher, than the levelof binding of said antibody to soluble liraglutide. In some embodimentsthe antibody has a detection limit for semaglutide fibrils at aconcentration at least 10 times, such as at least 100 times or at least1000 times, lower than the detection limit for semaglutide fibrils in aThT assay, said detection limit optionally determined according to Assay(VI) herein. In some embodiments the antibody has a level of binding tosemaglutide fibrils which is at least 10 times higher, such as at least20 times higher or at least 50 times higher than the level of binding ofsaid antibody to soluble semaglutide. In some embodiments the level ofbinding is determined according to Assay (IV) herein. In someembodiments the level of binding is determined according to Assay (III)herein. In some embodiments the level of binding is determined accordingto Assay (III-B) herein.

In some embodiments the invention relates to an antibody bindingliraglutide fibrils, wherein said fibrils are optionally preparedaccording to Assay (I) herein and said antibody has a level of bindingto liraglutide fibrils which is at least 10 times higher than the levelof binding of said antibody to soluble liraglutide, wherein said levelof binding is determined according to Assay (III) at a liraglutidefibril concentration of at least 25 μM. In some embodiments theinvention relates to an antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, whereinsaid fibrils are optionally prepared according to Assay (I) herein andsaid antibody has a detection limit for liraglutide fibrils at aconcentration at least 10 times lower than the detection limit forliraglutide fibrils in a ThT assay, wherein said detection limit isdetermined according to Assay (VI) herein at a liraglutide fibrilconcentration of at least 1 μM. In some embodiments the inventionrelates to an antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, wherein said fibrilsare optionally prepared according to Assay (I) herein and said antibodyhas a level of binding to liraglutide fibrils which is at least 5 timeshigher than the level of binding of said antibody to solubleliraglutide, wherein said antibody has a purity of above 95% monomer andwherein said level of binding is determined according to Assay (III-B)herein at a liraglutide fibril concentration of at least 30 μM. In someembodiments the invention relates to an antibody binding liraglutidefibrils, wherein said fibrils are optionally prepared according to Assay(I) herein and said antibody has a detection limit for liraglutidefibrils at a concentration at least 10 times lower than the detectionlimit for liraglutide fibrils in a ThT assay, wherein said antibody hasa purity of above 95% monomer and wherein said detection limit isdetermined according to Assay (VI-B) herein at a liraglutide fibrilconcentration of at least 0.025 μM.

In some embodiments the invention relates to an antibody bindingliraglutide fibrils, wherein said antibody can detect liraglutidefibrils at concentrations of 1-1000 ppm fibrils in solution, such as1-10 ppm fibrils, alternatively 10-100 ppm fibrils, alternatively100-1000 ppm fibrils.

In some embodiments the invention relates to an antibody bindingliraglutide fibrils, wherein the variable region of the heavy chain ofsaid antibody comprises a CDR3 sequence and said CDR3 sequence isselected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 37, 43, 49, 55, 61, 67,73, 79, 85, 91, 97, 103, or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 aminoacid substitutions, deletions or insertions. In some embodiments theinvention relates to an antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, whereinthe variable region of the heavy chain of said antibody comprises a CDR3sequence and said CDR3 sequence is selected from the group consisting ofSEQ ID NO: 115 and 121, or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 aminoacid substitutions, deletions or insertions. In some embodiments theinvention relates to an antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, whereinthe variable region of the heavy chain of said antibody comprises a CDR3sequence and said CDR3 sequence is selected from the group consisting ofSEQ ID NO: 37, 43, 49, 55, 61, 67, 73, 79, 85, 91, 97, 103, or any ofsaid sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions orinsertions. In some embodiments the variable region of the heavy chainof said antibody comprises the CDR3 sequence of SEQ ID NO: 37, or any ofsaid sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions orinsertions. In some embodiments the variable region of the heavy chainof said antibody comprises the CDR3 sequence of SEQ ID NO: 43, or any ofsaid sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions orinsertions. In some embodiments the variable region of the heavy chainof said antibody comprises the CDR3 sequence of SEQ ID NO: 49, or any ofsaid sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions orinsertions. In some embodiments the variable region of the heavy chainof said antibody comprises the CDR3 sequence of SEQ ID NO: 55, or any ofsaid sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions orinsertions. In some embodiments the variable region of the heavy chainof said antibody comprises the CDR3 sequence of SEQ ID NO: 61, or any ofsaid sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions orinsertions. In some embodiments the variable region of the heavy chainof said antibody comprises the CDR3 sequence of SEQ ID NO: 67, or any ofsaid sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions orinsertions. In some embodiments the variable region of the heavy chainof said antibody comprises the CDR3 sequence of SEQ ID NO: 73, or any ofsaid sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions orinsertions. In some embodiments the variable region of the heavy chainof said antibody comprises the CDR3 sequence of SEQ ID NO: 79, or any ofsaid sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions orinsertions. In some embodiments the variable region of the heavy chainof said antibody comprises the CDR3 sequence of SEQ ID NO: 85, or any ofsaid sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions orinsertions. In some embodiments the variable region of the heavy chainof said antibody comprises the CDR3 sequence of SEQ ID NO: 91, or any ofsaid sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions orinsertions. In some embodiments the variable region of the heavy chainof said antibody comprises the CDR3 sequence of SEQ ID NO: 97, or any ofsaid sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions orinsertions. In some embodiments the variable region of the heavy chainof said antibody comprises the CDR3 sequence of SEQ ID NO: 103, or anyof said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions orinsertions. In some embodiments the variable region of the heavy chainof said antibody comprises the CDR3 sequence of SEQ ID NO: 115, or anyof said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions orinsertions. In some embodiments the variable region of the heavy chainof said antibody comprises the CDR3 sequence of SEQ ID NO: 121, or anyof said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions orinsertions.

In some embodiments the invention relates to an antibody bindingliraglutide fibrils, wherein the variable region of the heavy chain ofsaid antibody comprises a CDR1, a CDR2, and/or a CDR3 sequence selectedfrom the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 37, 38 and 39; SEQ ID NO: 43,44 and 45; SEQ ID NO: 49, 50 and 51; SEQ ID NO: 55, 56 and 57; SEQ IDNO: 61, 62 and 63; SEQ ID NO: 67, 68 and 69; SEQ ID NO: 73, 74 and 75;SEQ ID NO: 79, 80 and 81; SEQ ID NO: 85, 86 and 87; SEQ ID NO: 91, 92and 93; SEQ ID NO: 97, 98 and 99; SEQ ID NO: 103, 104 and 105; or any ofsaid sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions orinsertions. In some embodiments the invention relates to an antibodybinding liraglutide fibrils, wherein the variable region of the heavychain of said antibody comprises a CDR1, a CDR2, and/or a CDR3 sequenceselected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 115, 116 and 117; SEQID NO: 121, 122, 123; or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acidsubstitutions, deletions or insertions. In some embodiments theinvention relates to an antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, whereinthe variable region of the heavy chain of said antibody comprises aCDR1, a CDR2, and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the group consistingof: SEQ ID NO: 37, 38 and 39; SEQ ID NO: 43, 44 and 45; SEQ ID NO: 49,50 and 51; SEQ ID NO: 55, 56 and 57; SEQ ID NO: 61, 62 and 63; SEQ IDNO: 67, 68 and 69; SEQ ID NO: 73, 74 and 75; SEQ ID NO: 79, 80 and 81;SEQ ID NO: 85, 86 and 87; SEQ ID NO: 91, 92 and 93; SEQ ID NO: 97, 98and 99; SEQ ID NO: 103, 104 and 105; or any of said sequences with 1, 2or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions or insertions. In someembodiments the invention relates to an antibody binding liraglutidefibrils, wherein the variable region of the heavy chain of said antibodycomprises a CDR1, a CDR2, and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the groupconsisting of: SEQ ID NO: SEQ ID NO: 115, 116 and 117; SEQ ID NO: 121,122, 123; or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acidsubstitutions, deletions or insertions. In some embodiments the variableregion of the heavy chain of said antibody comprises a CDR1, a CDR2,and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:37, 38 and 39; or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acidsubstitutions, deletions or insertions. In some embodiments the variableregion of the heavy chain of said antibody comprises a CDR1, a CDR2,and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:43, 44 and 45; or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acidsubstitutions, deletions or insertions. In some embodiments the variableregion of the heavy chain of said antibody comprises a CDR1, a CDR2,and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:49, 50 and 51; or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acidsubstitutions, deletions or insertions. In some embodiments the variableregion of the heavy chain of said antibody comprises a CDR1, a CDR2,and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:55, 56 and 57; or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acidsubstitutions, deletions or insertions. In some embodiments the variableregion of the heavy chain of said antibody comprises a CDR1, a CDR2,and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:61, 62 and 63; or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acidsubstitutions, deletions or insertions. In some embodiments the variableregion of the heavy chain of said antibody comprises a CDR1, a CDR2,and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:67, 68 and 69; or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acidsubstitutions, deletions or insertions. In some embodiments the variableregion of the heavy chain of said antibody comprises a CDR1, a CDR2,and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:73, 74 and 75; or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acidsubstitutions, deletions or insertions. In some embodiments the variableregion of the heavy chain of said antibody comprises a CDR1, a CDR2,and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:79, 80 and 81; or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acidsubstitutions, deletions or insertions. In some embodiments the variableregion of the heavy chain of said antibody comprises a CDR1, a CDR2,and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:85, 86 and 87; or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acidsubstitutions, deletions or insertions. In some embodiments the variableregion of the heavy chain of said antibody comprises a CDR1, a CDR2,and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:91, 92 and 93; or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acidsubstitutions, deletions or insertions. In some embodiments the variableregion of the heavy chain of said antibody comprises a CDR1, a CDR2,and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:97, 98 and 99; or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acidsubstitutions, deletions or insertions. In some embodiments the variableregion of the heavy chain of said antibody comprises a CDR1, a CDR2,and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:103, 104 and 105; or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acidsubstitutions, deletions or insertions. In some embodiments the variableregion of the heavy chain of said antibody comprises a CDR1, a CDR2,and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:115, 116 and 117; or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acidsubstitutions, deletions or insertions. In some embodiments the variableregion of the heavy chain of said antibody comprises a CDR1, a CDR2,and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:121, 122, 123; or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acidsubstitutions, deletions or insertions.

In some embodiments the invention relates to an antibody bindingliraglutide fibrils, wherein the variable region of the light chain ofsaid antibody comprises a CDR1, a CDR2, and/or a CDR3 sequence selectedfrom the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 40, 41 and 42; SEQ ID NO: 46,47 and 48; SEQ ID NO: 52, 53 and 54; SEQ ID NO: 58, 59 and 60; SEQ IDNO: 64, 65 and 66; SEQ ID NO: 70, 71 and 72; SEQ ID NO: 76, 77 and 78;SEQ ID NO: 82, 83 and 84; SEQ ID NO: 88, 89 and 90; SEQ ID NO: 94, 95and 96; SEQ ID NO: 100, 101 and 102; SEQ ID NO: 106, 107 and 108; or anyof said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions orinsertions. In some embodiments the invention relates to an antibodybinding liraglutide fibrils, wherein the variable region of the lightchain of said antibody comprises a CDR1, a CDR2, and/or a CDR3 sequenceselected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 118, 119 and 120; SEQID NO: 124, 125 and 126; or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 aminoacid substitutions, deletions or insertions. In some embodiments theinvention relates to an antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, whereinthe variable region of the light chain of said antibody comprises aCDR1, a CDR2, and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the group consistingof: SEQ ID NO: 40, 41 and 42; or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3amino acid substitutions, deletions or insertions. In some embodimentsthe invention relates to an antibody binding liraglutide fibrils,wherein the variable region of the light chain of said antibodycomprises a CDR1, a CDR2, and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the groupconsisting of: SEQ ID NO: 46, 47 and 48; or any of said sequences with1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions or insertions. In someembodiments the invention relates to an antibody binding liraglutidefibrils, wherein the variable region of the light chain of said antibodycomprises a CDR1, a CDR2, and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the groupconsisting of: SEQ ID NO: 52, 53 and 54; or any of said sequences with1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions or insertions. In someembodiments the invention relates to an antibody binding liraglutidefibrils, wherein the variable region of the light chain of said antibodycomprises a CDR1, a CDR2, and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the groupconsisting of: SEQ ID NO: 58, 59 and 60; or any of said sequences with1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions or insertions. In someembodiments the invention relates to an antibody binding liraglutidefibrils, wherein the variable region of the light chain of said antibodycomprises a CDR1, a CDR2, and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the groupconsisting of: SEQ ID NO: 64, 65 and 66; or any of said sequences with1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions or insertions. In someembodiments the invention relates to an antibody binding liraglutidefibrils, wherein the variable region of the light chain of said antibodycomprises a CDR1, a CDR2, and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the groupconsisting of: SEQ ID NO: 70, 71 and 72; or any of said sequences with1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions or insertions. In someembodiments the invention relates to an antibody binding liraglutidefibrils, wherein the variable region of the light chain of said antibodycomprises a CDR1, a CDR2, and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the groupconsisting of: SEQ ID NO: 76, 77 and 78; or any of said sequences with1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions or insertions. In someembodiments the invention relates to an antibody binding liraglutidefibrils, wherein the variable region of the light chain of said antibodycomprises a CDR1, a CDR2, and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the groupconsisting of: SEQ ID NO: 82, 83 and 84; or any of said sequences with1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions or insertions. In someembodiments the invention relates to an antibody binding liraglutidefibrils, wherein the variable region of the light chain of said antibodycomprises a CDR1, a CDR2, and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the groupconsisting of: SEQ ID NO: 88, 89 and 90; or any of said sequences with1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions or insertions. In someembodiments the invention relates to an antibody binding liraglutidefibrils, wherein the variable region of the light chain of said antibodycomprises a CDR1, a CDR2, and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the groupconsisting of: SEQ ID NO: 94, 95 and 96; or any of said sequences with1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions or insertions. In someembodiments the invention relates to an antibody binding liraglutidefibrils, wherein the variable region of the light chain of said antibodycomprises a CDR1, a CDR2, and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the groupconsisting of: SEQ ID NO: 100, 101 and 102; or any of said sequenceswith 1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions or insertions. Insome embodiments the invention relates to an antibody bindingliraglutide fibrils, wherein the variable region of the light chain ofsaid antibody comprises a CDR1, a CDR2, and/or a CDR3 sequence selectedfrom the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 106, 107 and 108; or any ofsaid sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions orinsertions. In some embodiments the invention relates to an antibodybinding liraglutide fibrils, wherein the variable region of the lightchain of said antibody comprises a CDR1, a CDR2, and/or a CDR3 sequenceselected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 118, 119 and 120; orany of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletionsor insertions. In some embodiments the invention relates to an antibodybinding liraglutide fibrils, wherein the variable region of the lightchain of said antibody comprises a CDR1, a CDR2, and/or a CDR3 sequenceselected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 124, 125 and 126; orany of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletionsor insertions. In some embodiments the invention relates to an antibodybinding liraglutide fibrils, wherein said antibody comprises a variableregion of the heavy chain as defined herein and a variable region of thelight chain as defined in any one of the preceding embodiments. In someembodiments the invention relates to an antibody binding liraglutidefibrils, wherein said antibody comprises a sequence selected from thegroup consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12;or any of said sequences with up to 20, such as up to 15 or up to 10,amino acid substitutions, deletions or insertions. In some embodimentsthe invention relates to an antibody binding liraglutide fibrils,wherein said antibody comprises a sequence selected from the groupconsisting of SEQ ID NO: 109 and 110; or any of said sequences with upto 20, such as up to 15 or up to 10, amino acid substitutions, deletionsor insertions. In some embodiments the invention relates to an antibodybinding liraglutide fibrils, wherein said antibody has at least 80%,such as at least 90% or at least 95%, sequence identity to a sequenceselected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,9, 10, 11 and 12. In some embodiments the invention relates to anantibody binding liraglutide fibrils, wherein said antibody has at least80%, such as at least 90% or at least 95%, sequence identity to asequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 109 and 110.In some embodiments the antibody has at least 70%, such as at least 75%,sequence identity to a sequence defined herein. In some embodiments theantibody has at least 80%, such as at least 85% or at least 90%,sequence identity to a sequence defined herein. In some embodiments theantibody has at least 91%, such as at least 92% or at least 93%,sequence identity to a sequence defined herein. In some embodiments theantibody has at least 94%, such as at least 95% or at least 96%,sequence identity to a sequence defined herein. In some embodiments theantibody has at least 97%, such as at least 98% or at least 99%,sequence identity to a sequence defined herein.

In some embodiments the invention relates to an antibody bindingliraglutide fibrils, wherein said antibody comprises a variable lightchain (VL) sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 13,15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 111 and 113; or any of saidsequences with up to 20, such as up to 15 or up to 10, amino acidsubstitutions, deletions or insertions. In some embodiments theinvention relates to an antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, whereinsaid antibody comprises a variable heavy chain (VH) sequence selectedfrom the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28,30, 32, 34, 36, 112 and 114; or any of said sequences with up to 20,such as up to 15 or up to 10, amino acid substitutions, deletions orinsertions.

In some embodiments the antibody is an isolated antibody. In someembodiments the antibody is single chain Fv fragment. In someembodiments the antibody comprises an Fc domain. In some embodiments theantibody is single chain Fv fragment further comprising an Fc domain. Insome embodiments the antibody specifically binds said liraglutidefibrils and/or semaglutide fibrils. In some embodiments the antibodyspecifically binds said liraglutide fibrils. In some embodiments theantibody specifically binds said semaglutide fibrils.

In some embodiments the antibody binding liraglutide fibrils has apurity of above 70%, alternatively above 75%, alternatively above 80%,alternatively above 85%, alternatively above 90%, alternatively above95% monomer. In some embodiments the antibody binding liraglutidefibrils has a purity of above 70% monomer. In some embodiments theantibody binding liraglutide fibrils has a purity of above 75% monomer.In some embodiments the antibody binding liraglutide fibrils has apurity of above 80% monomer. In some embodiments the antibody bindingliraglutide fibrils has a purity of above 85% monomer. In someembodiments the antibody binding liraglutide fibrils has a purity ofabove 90% monomer. In some embodiments the antibody binding liraglutidefibrils has a purity of above 95% monomer. In some embodiments purity ofthe antibody binding liraglutide fibrils is determined according methoddescribed herein under “Size-exclusion chromatography” followed bydetermination of area under the curve based on absorbance at 280 nm(AUC_(280 nm)) for the peak of the monomeric antibody in relation to thesum of AUC_(280 nm) for all peaks.

Liraglutide and Semaglutide

Liraglutide and semaglutide are analogues of human GLP-1(7-37)comprising a covalently attached moiety. The antibodies of the inventionbind liraglutide fibrils and/or semaglutide fibrils. The term “fibril”as used herein in relation to liraglutide refers to liraglutide fibrilsand as used herein in relation to semaglutide refers to semaglutidefibrils. In some embodiments the antibodies of the invention bindliraglutide fibrils. In some embodiments the antibodies of the inventionbind semaglutide fibrils.

Liraglutide isArg34,Lys26-(N-epsilon-(gamma-L-glutamyl(N-alfa-hexadecanoyl)))-GLP-1(7-37),and may be prepared according to Example 37 of WO98/08871. Example 37 ofWO98/08871 is incorporated herein by reference. The structure ofliraglutide was also published in WHO Drug Information Vol. 17, No. 2,2003. The structure of liraglutide was also published in WHO DrugInformation Vol. 24, No. 1, 2010. Liraglutide fibrils may be prepared asdescribed in Assay (I) herein. An example of soluble liraglutide is thecommercially available solutions manufactured by Novo Nordisk A/S,Denmark; e.g. trademark Victoza®.

Semaglutide isN-ε26-[2-(2-[2-(2-[2-(2-[4-(17-Carboxyheptadecanoylamino)-4(S)-carboxybutyrylamino]ethoxy)ethoxy]acetylamino)ethoxy]ethoxy)acetyl][Aib8,Arg34]GLP-1-(7-37)peptide,and may be prepared according to Example 4 of WO2006/097537. Example 4of WO2006/097537 is incorporated herein by reference. Semaglutidefibrils may be prepared as described in Assay (II) herein. An example ofsoluble semaglutide is the commercially available solution manufacturedby Novo Nordisk A/S, Denmark; trademark Ozempic®.

Antibodies

In some embodiments the invention relates to one or more of a series ofantibodies which are characterized by their functionality and/or theamino acid sequence of the CDRs, the variable region of the heavy chain,the variable region of the light chain and/or the sequence of the Fcdomain. In some embodiments the term “CDR” as used herein is determinedare according to the Kabat antibody numbering scheme (Kabat, Elvin A.(1976). Structural Concepts in Immunology and Immunochemistry. New York,N.Y., USA: Holt, Rinehart & Winston). In some embodiments the inventionrelates to one or more of a series of antibodies which are characterizedby their functionality and/or the H-CDR3 amino acid sequence. In someembodiments the invention relates to one or more of a series ofantibodies which are characterized by their functionality and/or the CDRamino acid sequences (CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3 of the variable region of theheavy chain may be referred herein to as H-CDR1, H-CDR2, and H-CDR3.Similarly, CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3 of the variable region of the lightchain may be referred to herein as L-CDR1, L-CDR2, and L-CDR3). In someembodiments the invention relates to one or more of a series ofantibodies which are characterized by their functionality and/or theamino acid sequence of the variable region of the heavy chain and thevariable region of the light chain. In some embodiments the inventionrelates to one or more of a series of antibodies which are characterizedby their functionality and/or the amino acid sequence of the variableregion of the heavy chain, the variable region of the light chain and/orthe sequence of the Fc domain. In some embodiments the antibodycomprises H-CDR3. In some embodiments the antibody comprises H-CDR1,H-CDR2, and/or H-CDR3. In some embodiments the antibody comprisesH-CDR1, H-CDR2, and H-CDR3. In some embodiments the antibody comprisesL-CDR1, L-CDR2, and/or L-CDR3. In some embodiments the antibodycomprises L-CDR1, L-CDR2, and L-CDR3. In some embodiments the antibodycomprises a variable region of the heavy chain and/or a variable regionof the light chain.

An antibody of the invention may be in any format, including a wholeantibody and an antigen binding fragment (i.e., “antigen-bindingportion”) or a single chain antibody.

In some embodiments the antibody is a single chain variable fragment(scFv) antibody. In some embodiments the antibody is a single chainvariable fragment fused to an Fc domain (scFv-Fc) antibody. In someembodiments, scFv or scFv-Fc antibodies consist of one amino acidsequence which comprises a variable region of the heavy chain (V_(H))and a variable region of the light chain (V_(L)); scFv-Fc antibodiesfurther comprise an Fc domain.

In some embodiments the antibody is a full-length antibody comprisingstandard antibody domains and regions, e.g. as described herein.Full-length antibodies (or whole antibodies) comprise four polypeptidechains, two heavy (H) chains and two light (L) chains interconnected bydisulfide bonds. Each heavy chain comprises a variable region of theheavy chain (V_(H)) and a heavy chain constant region (C_(H)). Eachlight chain comprises a variable region of the light chain (V_(L)) and alight chain constant region (C_(L)). The heavy chain constant regioncomprises three domains, C_(H)1, C_(H)2 and C_(H)3. Each light chaincomprises a light chain variable region (abbreviated herein as V_(L))and a light chain constant region. The light chain constant regioncomprises one domain, C_(L).

The variable region of the heavy chain and the variable region of thelight chain each comprise a binding domain that interacts with theantigen. The V_(H) and V_(L) regions can be further subdivided intoregions of hypervariability, termed complementarity determining regions(CDR), interspersed with regions that are more conserved, termedframework regions (FR). Each V_(H) and V_(L) may comprise three CDRs andfour FRs, arranged from amino-terminus to carboxy-terminus in thefollowing order: FR1, CDR1, FR2, CDR2, FR3, CDR3, FR4. The constantregions of the antibodies may mediate the binding of the immunoglobulinto host tissues or factors, including various cells of the immune system(e.g., effector cells) and the first component (Clq) of the classicalcomplement system.

In some embodiments the antibody is an antibody fragment, such fragmentsmay be obtained using conventional recombinant or protein engineeringtechniques. Antibody fragments of the invention may be made bytruncation, e.g. by removal of one or more amino acids from the N and/orC-terminal ends of a polypeptide. Fragments may also be generated by oneor more internal deletions. In some embodiments, the antibody of theinvention is, or comprises, a fragment of any one of the antibodiesdescribed herein. In some embodiments, the antibody of the invention is,or comprises, an antigen binding portion of one of the antibodiesdescribed herein, or variants thereof. For example, the antibody of theinvention may be an Fab fragment of one of the antibodies describedherein, or variants thereof, or the antibody of the invention may be asingle chain antibody derived from one of the antibodies describedherein, or a variant thereof. Examples of antigen-binding fragmentsinclude Fab, Fab′, F(ab)2, F(ab′)2, Fv (typically the V_(L) and V_(H) ofa single arm of an antibody), single-chain Fv (scFv; see e.g. Bird etal., Science 1988; 242:42S-426; and Huston et al. PNAS 1988;85:5879-5883), Fd (typically the V_(H) and C_(H)1), and dAb (typically aV_(H)) fragments; V_(H), V_(L), VhH, and V-NAR; monovalent moleculescomprising a single V_(H) and a single V_(L) chain; minibodies,diabodies, triabodies, tetrabodies, and kappa bodies (see, e.g., III etal., Protein Eng 1997; 10:949-57); camel IgG; IgNAR; as well as one ormore isolated CDRs or a functional paratope, where the isolated CDRs orantigen-binding residues or polypeptides can be associated or linkedtogether so as to form a functional antibody fragment. Various types ofantibody fragments have been described or reviewed in, e.g., Holligerand Hudson, Nat Biotechnol 2005; 2S:1126-1136; WO2005040219, andpublished U.S. Patent Applications 20050238646 and 20020161201.

The terms “complementarity-determining region” (“CDR”) or “hypervariableregion”, when used herein, refer to the amino acid residues of anantibody that are responsible for antigen binding. The CDRs aregenerally comprised of CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3 in the variable region ofthe light chain and CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3 in the variable region of theheavy chain defined according to Kabat and/or those residues from a“hypervariable loop” (Chothia and Lesk, J. Mol. Biol 1987; 196:901-917).Typically, the numbering of amino acid residues in this region isperformed by the method described in Kabat et al., supra. The term“Kabat” as used herein refers to the numbering system for the variableregion of the heavy chain and/or the variable region of the light chaindescribed in e.g. Kabat et al. (1991) Sequences of Proteins ofImmunological Interest, Fifth Edition, U.S. Department of Health andHuman Services, NIH Publication No. 91-3242. Using the Kabat numberingsystem, the actual linear amino acid sequence of a peptide may containfewer or additional amino acids corresponding to a shortening of, orinsertion into, a framework (FR) or CDR of the variable region. TheKabat numbering of residues may be determined for a given antibody byalignment at regions of homology of the sequence of the antibody with a“standard” Kabat numbered sequence. The term “framework region” or “FR”residues refer to those V_(H) or V_(L) amino acid residues that are notwithin the CDRs, as defined herein. The fragment crystallizable region(“Fc domain”) of an antibody is the region of an antibody that iscapable of interacting with cell surface receptors called Fc receptors,as well as some proteins of the complement system.

The term “antibody derivatives” refers to any modified form of theantibody, such as a conjugate of the antibody and another agent orantibody.

The term “antigen” may refer to the molecular entity used for generatingan antibody. However, herein the term “antigen” broadly refers to targetmolecules binding, or specifically binding, the antibody; thus,including fragments or mimics of the molecular entity used to generatethe antibody. Antibodies may be generated in any way including byimmunization of an animal or display screening, e.g. phage display oryeast display.

The term “epitope”, as used herein, is defined in the context of amolecular interaction between an “antigen binding” polypeptide, such asan antibody or a fragment thereof, and its corresponding antigen.Generally, “epitope” refers to the area or region on an antigen to whichan antibody binds, or specifically binds, i.e. the area or region inphysical contact with the antibody. An epitope may comprise amino acidresidues in the antigen that are directly involved in binding to theantibody (also called the immunodominant component of the epitope) andother amino acid residues, which are not directly involved in binding,such as amino acid residues of the antigen which are effectively blockedby the antibody (in other words, the amino acid residue is within the“solvent-excluded surface” and/or the “footprint” of the antibody). Agiven antigen may comprise a number of different epitopes, which mayinclude, without limitation; linear peptide antigenic determinants,conformational antigenic determinants which consist of one or morenon-contiguous amino acids located near each other in the native(mature) conformation; and post-translational antigenic determinantswhich consist, either in whole or part, of molecular structurescovalently attached to the antigen, such as carbohydrate groups.

The terms “binding”, “specifically binding” and “specificity” of anantibody are used herein to describe the selectivity of an antibody oran antigen binding fragment thereof. Antibodies according to theinvention may specifically bind liraglutide fibrils or semaglutidefibrils, indicating that the antibody has a significantly lower level ofbinding to other antigens. In some embodiments significantly lower is atleast 10-fold lower, such as at least 15-fold lower or at least 20-foldlower, level of binding. Level of binding may be determined according toAssay (III) herein or according to Assay (IV) herein. Level of bindingmay be determined according to Assay (III-B) herein.

The term “sequence identity” as used herein refers to the degree ofrelatedness between polypeptide sequences, as determined by the numberof matches between strings of two or more amino acid residues and may bedetermined as the percent of identical matches between the smaller oftwo or more sequences with gap alignments (if any) addressed by aparticular mathematical model or computer program (i.e., “algorithms”).Sequence identity of polypeptides can be readily calculated by methodsknown in the art, including, but not limited to, those described inComputational Molecular Biology, Lesk, A. M., ed., Oxford UniversityPress, New York, 1988; Biocomputing: Informatics and Genome Projects,Smith, D. W., ed., Academic Press, New York, 1993; Computer Analysis ofSequence Data, Part 1, Griffin, A. M., and Griffin, H. G., eds., HumanaPress, New Jersey, 1994; Sequence Analysis in Molecular Biology, vonHeinje, G., Academic Press, 1987; Sequence Analysis Primer, Gribskov, M.and Devereux, J., eds., M. Stockton Press, New York, 1991; and Carilloet al., SIAM J. Applied Math. 48, 1073 (1988). Preferred methods fordetermining sequence identity are designed to give the largest matchbetween the sequences tested. Methods of determining sequence identityare described in publicly available computer programs; such preferredcomputer program methods for determining sequence identity between twosequences include the GCG program package, including GAP (Devereux etal., Nucl. Acid. Res. 12, 387 (1984); Genetics Computer Group,University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.), BLASTP, BLASTN, and FASTA(Altschul et al., J. Mol. Biol. 215, 403-410 (1990)). The BLASTX programis publicly available from the National Center for BiotechnologyInformation (NCBI) and other sources (BLAST Manual, Altschul et al.NCB/NLM/NIH Bethesda, Md. 20894; Altschul et al., supra). The well-knownSmith Waterman algorithm may also be used to determine sequenceidentity. For example, using the computer algorithm GAP (GeneticsComputer Group, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.), twopolypeptides for which the percent sequence identity is to be determinedare aligned for optimal matching of their respective amino acids (the“matched span”, as determined by the algorithm). A gap opening penalty(which is calculated as 3 times the average diagonal; the “averagediagonal” is the average of the diagonal of the comparison matrix beingused; the “diagonal” is the score or number assigned to each perfectamino acid match by the particular comparison matrix) and a gapextension penalty (which is usually 1/10 times the gap opening penalty),as well as a comparison matrix such as PAM 250 or BLOSUM 62 are used inconjunction with the algorithm. A standard comparison matrix (seeDayhoff et al., Atlas of Protein Sequence and Structure, vol. 5, supp.3(1978) for the PAM 250 comparison matrix; Henikoff et al., Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci USA 89, 10915-10919 (1992) for the BLOSUM 62 comparisonmatrix) is also used by the algorithm. In some embodiments sequenceidentity is determined using the following parameters, e.g. using thealgorithm GAP: Algorithm: Needleman et al., J. Mol. Biol. 48, 443-453(1970); Comparison matrix: BLOSUM 62 from Henikoff et al., PNAS USA 89,10915-10919 (1992); and Gap Penalty: 12, Gap Length Penalty: 4,Threshold of Similarity: 0, and no penalty for end gaps.

In some embodiments the antibody of the invention comprises one or moreamino acid substitutions or insertion. Amino acid substitution may be inthe form of conservative amino acid substitution. A “conservative aminoacid substitution” may involve a substitution of one amino acid residuewith another residue such that there is little or no effect on thepolarity or charge of the amino acid residue at that position.Conservative amino acid substitution may be carried out within thefollowing groups of amino acids: Hydrophilic: Ala, Pro, Gly, Glu, Asp,Gin, Asn, Ser, Thr; Aliphatic: Val, lie, Leu, Met. Basic: Lys, Arg, His;Aromatic: Phe, Tyr, Trp; furthermore, typically any residue may besubstituted with alanine.

In some embodiments, one or more unnatural amino acids are introduced bysubstitution or insertion into the antibody of the present invention.Such unnatural amino acids include, but are not limited to, theD-isomers of the common amino acids, 2,4-diaminobutyric acid, α-aminoisobutyric acid, 4-aminobutyric acid, 2-aminobutyric acid, 6-aminohexanoic acid, 2-amino isobutyric acid, 3-amino propionic acid,ornithine, norleucine, norvaline, hydroxyproline, sarcosine, citralline,homocitrulline, cysteic acid, t-butylglycine, t-butylalanine,phenylglycine, cyclohexylalanine, β-alanine, fluoro-amino acids,designer amino acids such as β-methyl amino acids, Cα-methyl aminoacids, and Nα-methyl amino acids.

Amino acid sequence variants of the antibody of the present inventionmay be prepared by introducing appropriate nucleotide changes into anucleic acid of the present invention, or by in vitro synthesis of thedesired polypeptide. Such variants include, for example, deletions,insertions or substitutions of residues within the amino acid sequence.A combination of deletion, insertion and substitution can be made toarrive at the final construct, provided that the final polypeptideproduct possesses the desired characteristics. Variant (altered)polypeptides can be prepared using any technique known in the art. Forexample, a polynucleotide of the invention can be subjected to in vitromutagenesis. Such in vitro mutagenesis techniques include sub-cloningthe polynucleotide into a suitable vector, transforming the vector intoa “mutator” strain such as the E. coli XL-I red (Stratagene) andpropagating the transformed bacteria for a suitable number ofgenerations. Products derived from mutated/altered DNA can readily bescreened using techniques described herein to determine if they havereceptor-binding and/or -inhibitory activity. In designing amino acidsequence variants, the location of the mutation site and the nature ofthe mutation will depend on characteristic(s) to be modified. The sitesfor mutation can be modified individually or in series, e.g., by (1)substituting first with conservative amino acid choices and then withmore radical selections depending upon the results achieved, (2)deleting the target residue, or (3) inserting other residues adjacent tothe located site. In some embodiments amino acid sequence deletionsrange from about 1 to 15 residues, more preferably about 1 to 10residues, and typically about 1 to 5, contiguous residues.

In some embodiments, a molecule consists essentially of the definedsequence. In some embodiments, a molecule consists of the definedsequence. In some embodiments the antibody is an isolated antibody. Theterm “isolated antibody” refers to an antibody that has been separatedand/or recovered from another/other component(s) of its naturalenvironment and/or purified from a mixture of components in its naturalenvironment. The antibodies of the invention may be from differentspecies including mammalian species such as mouse, rat, rabbit, pig ornon-human primate. The antibody may be a rodent antibody and moreparticularly a mouse antibody. Alternatively, the antibody may be from anon-mammalian species such as chicken. The antibody may further be ahumanized antibody or human antibody.

Antibodies of the invention may be prepared according to methods knownin the art, such as recombinant protein, cell culture, and immunologicaltechniques. Such techniques are described and explained throughout theliterature in sources such as, J. Perbal, A Practical Guide to MolecularCloning, John Wiley and Sons (1984), J. Sambrook et al, MolecularCloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory Press(1989), T. A. Brown (editor), Essential Molecular Biology: A PracticalApproach, Volumes 1 and 2, IRL Press (1991), D. M. Glover and B. D.Hames (editors), DNA Cloning: A Practical Approach, Volumes 1-4, IRLPress (1995 and 1996), and F. M. Ausubel et al. (editors), CurrentProtocols in Molecular Biology, Greene Pub. Associates andWiley-Interscience (1988, including all updates until present), EdHarlow and David Lane (editors) Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, ColdSpring Harbour Laboratory, (1988), and J. E. Coligan et al. (editors)Current Protocols in Immunology, John Wiley and Sons (including allupdates until present).

Single chain antibodies, including scFv or scFv-Fc antibodies, may beprepared by inserting the DNA sequence corresponding to their amino acidsequence into a plasmid in a host cell followed by expression of theantibody using this host cell by recombinant techniques, e.g. bacterialcell culture; such methods are well-known in the art.

Monoclonal antibodies are typically made by fusing myeloma cells withthe spleen cells from a mouse that has been immunized with the desiredantigen. Human monoclonal antibodies can be obtained from transgenicanimals (e.g. mice or other suitable species) encoding human antibodies.Alternatively, recombinant monoclonal antibodies can be made involvingtechnologies, referred to as repertoire cloning or phage display/yeastdisplay. Recombinant antibody engineering involves the use of viruses oryeast to create antibodies, rather than mice.

Methods and Use of Antibodies

In some embodiments the present invention relates to use of theantibodies as defined herein for identifying and/or quantifyingliraglutide fibrils or semaglutide fibrils. In some embodiments thepresent invention relates to use of the antibodies as defined herein forisolating, including partly isolating, liraglutide fibrils orsemaglutide fibrils from solutions comprising soluble liraglutide orsoluble semaglutide. Such identification and/or quantification may becarried out by binding the antibody to the fibrils followed by detectionof bound antibody, for example via an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). An ELISA may be carried out as known in the art. In someembodiments the container for the ELISA (such as a microtiter plate) isinitially saturated. Saturation may be with a protein such as lysozymeor albumin, e.g. bovine serum albumin (BSA) or ovalbumin. In someembodiments the antibody of the invention bound to the fibril will bebound to a secondary antibody. If the antibody of the inventioncomprises an Fc domain then the secondary antibody may bind to this Fcdomain. Detection and/or quantification of the secondary antibody may bepossible if a marker is present on the secondary antibody, such a markermay be a fluorophore which can be identified via spectroscopy.Quantification may be carried out using a standard of the fibril boundto the antibody of the invention.

In some embodiments the term “detection limit” as used herein refers tothe lowest limit of detection, which is the lowest concentration of asubstance which can be distinguished from the absence of this substance.In some embodiments the term “detection limit” as used herein refers toa mixture/soluble specificity ratio of 3 determined according to Assay(IV) herein. Comparisons of detection limits using an antibody and a ThTAssay may be carried according to Assay (VI) herein. Comparisons ofdetection limits using an antibody and a ThT Assay may be carriedaccording to Assay (VI-B) herein. In some embodiments the term“detection limit” as used herein in relation to an antibody refers tothe detection limit of an assay using said antibody in an ELISA, such asAssay (III) or Assay (IV) herein. In some embodiments the term“detection limit” as used herein in relation to an antibody refers tothe detection limit of an assay using said antibody in an ELISA, such asAssay (III-B) herein. In some embodiments the term “detection limit” asused herein is three times the standard deviation of the control sampletested in duplicate; standard deviation may be determined by theStudent's t-test.

In some embodiments the present invention relates to use of an antibodyas defined herein for identification of liraglutide fibrils orsemaglutide fibrils.

In some embodiments the present invention relates to use of an antibodyas defined herein as an affinity ligand to remove fibrils from a mixturecomprising (i) liraglutide fibrils and soluble liraglutide or (ii)semaglutide fibrils and soluble semaglutide.

In some embodiments the present invention relates to methods foridentifying liraglutide fibrils or semaglutide fibrils, said methodcomprising the step of a) binding the antibody as defined herein toliraglutide fibrils or semaglutide fibrils.

In some embodiments the present invention relates to methods forquantifying liraglutide fibrils or semaglutide fibrils, said methodcomprising the step of a) binding the antibody as defined herein toliraglutide fibrils or semaglutide fibrils. The method according to anyone of the preceding embodiments further comprising a step of b)detecting antibody bound to liraglutide fibrils or semaglutide fibrils.In some embodiments the method further comprises a step of c)quantifying antibody bound to liraglutide fibrils or semaglutidefibrils, optionally by use of a standard of said fibril. In someembodiments the fibrils are in a solution. In some embodiments thefibrils are in a solution further comprising soluble liraglutide. Insome embodiments the fibrils are in a solution further comprising noother peptide or protein other than liraglutide fibrils, and optionallysoluble liraglutide.

In some embodiments the method comprises (a) contacting a solid supportwith the sample under conditions whereby one or more fibrils in thesample are immobilized on the solid support; (b) contacting the solidsupport with any one of the antibodies described herein, or anantigen-binding fragment thereof, under conditions whereby the antibodybinds to the one or more immobilized fibrils to form an antibody-fibrilcomplex; and (c) contacting the antibody-fibril complex with a secondantibody comprising a detectable label, wherein (i) the second antibodyspecifically binds to the antibody-fibril complex and (ii) detection ofa signal from the detectable label indicating the presence of one ormore fibrils in the sample.

In some embodiments, the method comprises (a) contacting a solid supportcomprising a fibril-specific antibody with a sample such that fibril, ifpresent in the sample, binds to the antibody and is immobilized to thesurface to form complex; and (b) detecting the complex.

Any solid support known in the art can be used in the methods describedherein, including but not limited to, solid supports made out ofpolymeric materials in the form of planar substrates or beads, and thelike. For example, the solid support may be a slide, multiwell plate,(e.g., 96-well plate), or a bead, e.g., latex, agarose, sepharose,streptavidin, tosylactivated, epoxy, polystyrene, amino bead, aminebead, carboxyl bead, or the like. In certain embodiments, the bead maybe a particle, e.g., a microparticle. The terms “bead” and “particle”are used herein interchangeably and refer to a substantially sphericalsolid support. The terms “microparticle” and “microbead” are usedinterchangeably herein and refer to a microbead or microparticle that isallowed to occupy or settle in an array of wells, such as, for example,in an array of wells in a detection module. Any number of techniquesknown in the art may be used to attach a protein or peptide to a solidsupport, such as a plate or microparticle. A wide variety of techniquesare known for adding reactive moieties to proteins, such as, forexample, the method described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,850. Methods forattachment of proteins to surfaces also are described in, for example,Heller, Acc. Chem. Res., 23:128 (1990).

The solid support may be contacted with a volume of the sample using anysuitable method known in the art. The term “contacting,” as used herein,refers to any type of combining action which brings a solid support intosufficiently close proximity with one or more fibrils in a sample suchthat a binding interaction will occur if one or more fibrils are presentin the sample. Contacting may be achieved in a variety of differentways, including combining the sample with a multiwell plate ormicroparticle. The contacting may be repeated as many times asnecessary. The incubating may be in a binding buffer that facilitatesthe specific binding interaction, such as, for example, albumin (e.g.,BSA), non-ionic detergents (Tween-20, Triton X-100), and/or proteaseinhibitors (e.g., PMSF). Other conditions for the binding interaction,such as, for example, temperature and salt concentration, may also bedetermined empirically or may be based on manufacturer's instructions.For example, the contacting may be carried out at room temperature (21°C.-28° C., e.g., 23° C.-25° C.), 37° C., or 4° C. The terms “detectablelabel,” and “label,” as used herein, refer to a moiety that can producea signal that is detectable by visual or instrumental means. Thedetectable label may be, for example, a signal-producing substance, suchas a chromogen, a fluorescent compound, an enzyme, a chemiluminescentcompound, a radioactive compound, and the like. In one embodiment, thedetectable label may be a fluorescent compound, such as a fluorophore.The presence or amount of fibrils in a sample may be determined (e.g.,quantified) using any suitable method known in the art. Such methodsinclude, but are not limited to, immunoassays, e.g. ELISA.

In some embodiments the present invention relates to an assay fordetecting liraglutide fibrils over soluble and/or monomeric liraglutidecomprising an antibody according to the invention, wherein said antibodycan detect liraglutide fibrils at concentrations of 1-1000 ppm fibrilsin solution, such as 1-10 ppm fibrils, alternatively 10-100 ppm fibrils,alternatively 100-1000 ppm fibrils.

In some embodiments, “a” means “one or more”. The term “about” as usedherein means the range from minus 10% to plus 10% the value referred to.Unless otherwise indicated in the specification, terms presented insingular form also include the plural situation.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Non-limiting embodiments of the invention include:

-   1. An antibody binding liraglutide fibrils.-   2. An antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, wherein said fibrils are    prepared according to Assay (1) herein.-   3. An antibody binding semaglutide fibrils.-   4. An antibody binding semaglutide fibrils, wherein said fibrils are    prepared according to Assay (II) herein.-   5. The antibody according to any embodiment 1 or 2, wherein said    antibody has a detection limit for liraglutide fibrils at a    concentration at least 10 times, such as at least 100 times or at    least 1000 times, lower than the detection limit for liraglutide    fibrils in a ThT assay, said detection limit optionally determined    according to Assay (VI) herein.-   6. The antibody according to any embodiment 1 or 2, wherein said    antibody has a level of binding to liraglutide fibrils which is at    least 10 times higher, such as at least 20 times higher or at least    50 times higher, than the level of binding of said antibody to    soluble liraglutide.-   7. The antibody according to any embodiment 1 or 2, wherein said    antibody has a detection limit for liraglutide fibrils at a    concentration at least 10 times, such as at least 100 times or at    least 1000 times, lower than the detection limit for liraglutide    fibrils in a ThT assay, said detection limit optionally determined    according to Assay (VI-B) herein.-   8. The antibody according to any embodiment 1 or 2, wherein said    antibody has a level of binding to liraglutide fibrils which is at    least 5 times, such as 10 times, higher than the level of binding of    said antibody to soluble liraglutide, said level of binding    optionally determined according to Assay (III-B) herein.-   9. The antibody according to any embodiment 3 or 4, wherein said    antibody has a detection limit for semaglutide fibrils at a    concentration at least 10 times, such as at least 100 times or at    least 1000 times, lower than the detection limit for semaglutide    fibrils in a ThT assay, said detection limit optionally determined    according to Assay (VI) herein.-   10. The antibody according to embodiment 3 or 4, wherein said    antibody has a level of binding to semaglutide fibrils which is at    least 10 times higher, such as at least 20 times higher or at least    50 times higher than the level of binding of said antibody to    soluble semaglutide.-   11. The antibody according to any one of embodiments 6 or 10,    wherein said level of binding is determined according to Assay (IV)    herein.-   12. The antibody according to any one of embodiments 6 or 10,    wherein said level of binding is determined according to Assay (III)    herein.-   13. An antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, wherein the variable    region of the heavy chain of said antibody comprises a CDR3 sequence    and said CDR3 sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ    ID NO: 37, 43, 49, 55, 61, 67, 73, 79, 85, 91, 97, 103, or any of    said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions or    insertions.-   14. An antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, wherein the variable    region of the heavy chain of said antibody comprises a CDR1, a CDR2,    and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the group consisting of:    -   a. SEQ ID NO: 37, 38 and 39;    -   b. SEQ ID NO: 43, 44 and 45;    -   c. SEQ ID NO: 49, 50 and 51;    -   d. SEQ ID NO: 55, 56 and 57;    -   e. SEQ ID NO: 61, 62 and 63;    -   f. SEQ ID NO: 67, 68 and 69;    -   g. SEQ ID NO: 73, 74 and 75;    -   h. SEQ ID NO: 79, 80 and 81;    -   i. SEQ ID NO: 85, 86 and 87;    -   j. SEQ ID NO: 91, 92 and 93;    -   k. SEQ ID NO: 97, 98 and 99;    -   l. SEQ ID NO: 103, 104 and 105;    -   or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid        substitutions, deletions or insertions.-   15. An antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, wherein the variable    region of the light chain of said antibody comprises a CDR1, a CDR2,    and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the group consisting of:    -   a. SEQ ID NO: 40, 41 and 42;    -   b. SEQ ID NO: 46, 47 and 48;    -   c. SEQ ID NO: 52, 53 and 54;    -   d. SEQ ID NO: 58, 59 and 60;    -   e. SEQ ID NO: 64, 65 and 66;    -   f. SEQ ID NO: 70, 71 and 72;    -   g. SEQ ID NO: 76, 77 and 78;    -   h. SEQ ID NO: 82, 83 and 84;    -   i. SEQ ID NO: 88, 89 and 90;    -   j. SEQ ID NO: 94, 95 and 96;    -   k. SEQ ID NO: 100, 101 and 102;    -   l. SEQ ID NO: 106, 107 and 108;    -   or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid        substitutions, deletions or insertions.-   16. An antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, wherein said antibody    comprises a variable region of the heavy chain as defined in any one    of the preceding embodiments and a variable region of the light    chain as defined in any one of the preceding embodiments.-   17. An antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, wherein said antibody    comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID    NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12; or any of said    sequences with up to 20, such as up to 15 or up to 10, amino acid    substitutions, deletions or insertions.-   18. An antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, wherein said antibody    has at least 80%, such as at least 90% or at least 95%, sequence    identity to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID    NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12.-   19. An antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, wherein said antibody    comprises a variable light chain (VL) sequence selected from the    group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29,    31, 33, 35, 111 and 113; or any of said sequences with up to 20,    such as up to 15 or up to 10, amino acid substitutions, deletions or    insertions.-   20. An antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, wherein said antibody    comprises a variable heavy chain (VH) sequence selected from the    group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30,    32, 34, 36, 112 and 114; or any of said sequences with up to 20,    such as up to 15 or up to 10, amino acid substitutions, deletions or    insertions.-   21. The antibody according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said antibody is an isolated antibody.-   22. The antibody according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said antibody is single chain Fv fragment.-   23. The antibody according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said antibody comprises an Fc domain.-   24. The antibody according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said antibody is single chain Fv fragment further comprising    an Fc domain.-   25. The antibody according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said antibody specifically binds said liraglutide fibrils    and/or semaglutide fibrils.-   26. The antibody according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said antibody specifically binds said liraglutide fibrils.-   27. The antibody according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said antibody specifically binds said semaglutide fibrils.-   28. Use of an antibody as defined in any one of the preceding    embodiments for identification of liraglutide fibrils or semaglutide    fibrils.-   29. Use of an antibody as defined in any one of the preceding    embodiments as an affinity ligand to remove fibrils from a mixture    comprising (i) liraglutide fibrils and soluble liraglutide or (ii)    semaglutide fibrils and soluble semaglutide.-   30. Method for identifying liraglutide fibrils or semaglutide    fibrils, said method comprising the step of a) binding the antibody    as defined in any one of the preceding embodiments to liraglutide    fibrils or semaglutide fibrils.-   31. Method for quantifying liraglutide fibrils or semaglutide    fibrils, said method comprising the step of a) binding the antibody    as defined in any one of the preceding embodiments to liraglutide    fibrils or semaglutide fibrils.-   32. The method according to any one of the preceding embodiments    further comprising a step of b) detecting antibody bound to    liraglutide fibrils or semaglutide fibrils.-   33. The method according to any one of the preceding embodiments    further comprising a step of c) quantifying antibody bound to    liraglutide fibrils or semaglutide fibrils, optionally by use of a    standard of said fibril.-   34. The method according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said fibrils are in a solution.-   35. The method according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said fibrils are in a solution further comprising soluble    liraglutide.-   36. The method according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said fibrils are in a solution further comprising no other    peptide or protein other than liraglutide fibrils, and optionally    soluble liraglutide.-   37. An antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, wherein said fibrils    are optionally prepared according to Assay (1) herein and said    antibody has    -   a. a level of binding to liraglutide fibrils which is at least        10 times higher, such as at least 20 times higher or at least 50        times higher, than the level of binding of said antibody to        soluble liraglutide; and/or    -   b. a detection limit for liraglutide fibrils at a concentration        at least 10 times, such as at least 100 times or at least 1000        times, lower than the detection limit for liraglutide fibrils in        a ThT assay, said detection limit optionally determined        according to Assay (VI) herein.-   38. An antibody binding semaglutide fibrils, wherein said fibrils    are optionally prepared according to Assay (II) herein and said    antibody has    -   c. a level of binding to semaglutide fibrils which is at least        10 times higher, such as at least 20 times higher or at least 50        times higher than the level of binding of said antibody to        soluble semaglutide; and/or    -   d. detection limit for semaglutide fibrils at a concentration at        least 10 times, such as at least 100 times or at least 1000        times, lower than the detection limit for semaglutide fibrils in        a ThT assay, said detection limit optionally determined        according to Assay (VI) herein.-   39. The antibody according to any one of embodiments 37 or 38,    wherein said level of binding is determined according to Assay (IV)    herein.-   40. The antibody according to any one of embodiments 37 or 38,    wherein said level of binding is determined according to Assay (III)    herein.-   41. An antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, wherein the variable    region of the heavy chain of said antibody comprises a CDR3 sequence    and said CDR3 sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ    ID NO: 37, 43, 49, 55, 61, 67, 73, 79, 85, 91, 97, 103, 115 and 121,    or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions,    deletions or insertions.-   42. An antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, wherein the variable    region of the heavy chain of said antibody comprises a CDR3 sequence    and said CDR3 sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ    ID NO: 37, 43, 49, 55, 61, 67, 73, 79, 85, 91, 97, 103, or any of    said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid substitutions, deletions or    insertions.-   43. An antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, wherein the variable    region of the heavy chain of said antibody comprises a CDR1, a CDR2,    and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the group consisting of:    -   a. SEQ ID NO: 37, 38 and 39;    -   b. SEQ ID NO: 43, 44 and 45;    -   c. SEQ ID NO: 49, 50 and 51;    -   d. SEQ ID NO: 55, 56 and 57;    -   e. SEQ ID NO: 61, 62 and 63;    -   f. SEQ ID NO: 67, 68 and 69;    -   g. SEQ ID NO: 73, 74 and 75;    -   h. SEQ ID NO: 79, 80 and 81;    -   i. SEQ ID NO: 85, 86 and 87;    -   j. SEQ ID NO: 91, 92 and 93;    -   k. SEQ ID NO: 97, 98 and 99;    -   l. SEQ ID NO: 103, 104 and 105;    -   or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid        substitutions, deletions or insertions.-   44. An antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, wherein the variable    region of the light chain of said antibody comprises a CDR1, a CDR2,    and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the group consisting of:    -   a. SEQ ID NO: 40, 41 and 42;    -   b. SEQ ID NO: 46, 47 and 48;    -   c. SEQ ID NO: 52, 53 and 54;    -   d. SEQ ID NO: 58, 59 and 60;    -   e. SEQ ID NO: 64, 65 and 66;    -   f. SEQ ID NO: 70, 71 and 72;    -   g. SEQ ID NO: 76, 77 and 78;    -   h. SEQ ID NO: 82, 83 and 84;    -   i. SEQ ID NO: 88, 89 and 90;    -   j. SEQ ID NO: 94, 95 and 96;    -   k. SEQ ID NO: 100, 101 and 102;    -   l. SEQ ID NO: 106, 107 and 108;    -   or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid        substitutions, deletions or insertions.-   45. An antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, wherein said antibody    comprises a variable region of the heavy chain as defined in any one    of the preceding embodiments and a variable region of the light    chain as defined in any one of the preceding embodiments.-   46. An antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, wherein said antibody    comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID    NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12; or any of said    sequences with up to 20, such as up to 15 or up to 10, amino acid    substitutions, deletions or insertions.-   47. An antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, wherein said antibody    has at least 80%, such as at least 90% or at least 95%, sequence    identity to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID    NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12.-   48. The antibody according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said antibody is an isolated antibody.-   49. The antibody according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said antibody is single chain Fv fragment.-   50. The antibody according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said antibody comprises an Fc domain.-   51. The antibody according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said antibody is single chain Fv fragment further comprising    an Fc domain.-   52. The antibody according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said antibody specifically binds said liraglutide fibrils    and/or semaglutide fibrils.-   53. The antibody according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said antibody specifically binds said liraglutide fibrils.-   54. The antibody according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said antibody specifically binds said semaglutide fibrils.-   55. Use of an antibody as defined in any one of the preceding    embodiments for identification of liraglutide fibrils or semaglutide    fibrils.-   56. Use of an antibody as defined in any one of the preceding    embodiments as an affinity ligand to remove fibrils from a mixture    comprising (i) liraglutide fibrils and soluble liraglutide or (ii)    semaglutide fibrils and soluble semaglutide.-   57. Method for identifying liraglutide fibrils or semaglutide    fibrils, said method comprising the step of a) binding the antibody    as defined in any one of the preceding embodiments to liraglutide    fibrils or semaglutide fibrils.-   58. Method for quantifying liraglutide fibrils or semaglutide    fibrils, said method comprising the step of a) binding the antibody    as defined in any one of the preceding embodiments to liraglutide    fibrils or semaglutide fibrils.-   59. The method according to any one of the preceding embodiments    further comprising a step of b) detecting antibody bound to    liraglutide fibrils or semaglutide fibrils.-   60. The method according to any one of the preceding embodiments    further comprising a step of c) quantifying antibody bound to    liraglutide fibrils or semaglutide fibrils, optionally by use of a    standard of said fibril.-   61. The method according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said fibrils are in a solution.-   62. The method according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said fibrils are in a solution further comprising soluble    liraglutide.-   63. The method according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said fibrils are in a solution further comprising no other    peptide or protein other than liraglutide fibrils, and optionally    soluble liraglutide.-   64. An antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, wherein the variable    region of the heavy chain of said antibody comprises a CDR1, a CDR2,    and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the group consisting of:    -   m. SEQ ID NO: 115, 116 and 117;    -   n. SEQ ID NO: 121, 122, 123;        -   or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid            substitutions, deletions or insertions.-   65. An antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, wherein the variable    region of the light chain of said antibody comprises a CDR1, a CDR2,    and/or a CDR3 sequence selected from the group consisting of:    -   aa. SEQ ID NO: 118, 119 and 120;    -   bb. SEQ ID NO: 124, 125 and 126;        -   or any of said sequences with 1, 2 or 3 amino acid            substitutions, deletions or insertions.-   66. An antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, wherein said antibody    comprises a variable region of the heavy chain as defined in any one    of the preceding embodiments and a variable region of the light    chain as defined in any one of the preceding embodiments.-   67. An antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, wherein said antibody    comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID    NO: 109 and 110; or any of said sequences with up to 20, such as up    to 15 or up to 10, amino acid substitutions, deletions or    insertions.-   68. An antibody binding liraglutide fibrils, wherein said antibody    has at least 80%, such as at least 90% or at least 95%, sequence    identity to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID    NO: 109 and 110.-   69. The antibody according to any one of embodiments 37-68, wherein    said antibody comprises a variable light chain (VL) sequence    selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 13, 15, 17, 19, 21,    23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 111 and 113; or any of said sequences    with up to 20, such as up to 15 or up to 10, amino acid    substitutions, deletions or insertions.-   70. The antibody according to any one of embodiments 37-69, wherein    said antibody comprises a variable heavy chain (VH) sequence    selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 14, 16, 18, 20, 22,    24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 112 and 114; or any of said sequences    with up to 20, such as up to 15 or up to 10, amino acid    substitutions, deletions or insertions.-   71. The antibody according to any one of embodiments 37-70, wherein    said antibody is an isolated antibody.-   72. The antibody according to any one of embodiments 37-71, wherein    said antibody is single chain Fv fragment.-   73. The antibody according to any one of embodiments 37-72, wherein    said antibody comprises an Fc domain.-   74. The antibody according to any one of embodiments 37-73, wherein    said antibody is single chain Fv fragment further comprising an Fc    domain.-   75. The antibody according to any one of embodiments 37-74, wherein    said antibody specifically binds said liraglutide fibrils and/or    semaglutide fibrils.-   76. The antibody according to any one of embodiments 37-75, wherein    said antibody specifically binds said liraglutide fibrils.-   77. The antibody according to any one of embodiments 37-76, wherein    said antibody specifically binds said semaglutide fibrils.-   78. The antibody according to any one of embodiments 37-77, wherein    said fibrils are optionally prepared according to Assay (1) herein    and said antibody has    -   a. a level of binding to liraglutide fibrils which is at least        10 times higher than the level of binding of said antibody to        soluble liraglutide, wherein said level of binding is determined        according to Assay (III) at a liraglutide fibril concentration        of at least 25 μM; and/or    -   b. a detection limit for liraglutide fibrils at a concentration        at least 10 times lower than the detection limit for liraglutide        fibrils in a ThT assay, wherein said detection limit is        determined according to Assay (VI) herein at a liraglutide        fibril concentration of at least 1 μM; and/or    -   c. a level of binding to liraglutide fibrils which is at least 5        times higher than the level of binding of said antibody to        soluble liraglutide, wherein said antibody has a purity of above        95% monomer and wherein said level of binding is determined        according to Assay (III-B) herein at a liraglutide fibril        concentration of at least 30 μM; and/or    -   d. a detection limit for liraglutide fibrils at a concentration        at least 10 times lower than the detection limit for liraglutide        fibrils in a ThT assay, wherein said antibody has a purity of        above 95% monomer and wherein said detection limit is determined        according to Assay (VI-B) herein at a liraglutide fibril        concentration of at least 0.025 μM.-   79. The antibody according to any one of embodiments 37-78, wherein    said antibody can detect liraglutide fibrils at concentrations of    1-1000 ppm fibrils in solution, such as 1-10 ppm fibrils,    alternatively 10-100 ppm fibrils, alternatively 100-1000 ppm    fibrils.-   80. The antibody according to any one of embodiments 37-79, wherein    said antibody has a purity of above 70%, alternatively above 75%,    alternatively above 80%, alternatively above 85%, alternatively    above 90%, alternatively above 95% monomer.-   81. The antibody according to any one of embodiments 37-80, wherein    said antibody has a purity of above 95% monomer.-   82. Use of an antibody as defined in any one of embodiments 37-81    for identification of liraglutide fibrils or semaglutide fibrils.-   83. Use of an antibody as defined in any one of embodiments 37-81 as    an affinity ligand to remove fibrils from a mixture comprising (i)    liraglutide fibrils and soluble liraglutide or (ii) semaglutide    fibrils and soluble semaglutide.-   84. Method for identifying liraglutide fibrils or semaglutide    fibrils, said method comprising the step of a) binding the antibody    as defined in any one of embodiments 37-81 to liraglutide fibrils or    semaglutide fibrils.-   85. Method for quantifying liraglutide fibrils or semaglutide    fibrils, said method comprising the step of a) binding the antibody    as defined in any one of embodiments 37-81 to liraglutide fibrils or    semaglutide fibrils.-   86. The method according to any one of embodiments 84-85 further    comprising a step of b) detecting antibody bound to liraglutide    fibrils or semaglutide fibrils.-   87. The method according to any one of embodiments 84-86 further    comprising a step of c) quantifying antibody bound to liraglutide    fibrils or semaglutide fibrils, optionally by use of a standard of    said fibril.-   88. The method according to any one of embodiments 84-87, wherein    said fibrils are in a solution.-   89. The method according to any one of embodiments 84-88, wherein    said fibrils are in a solution further comprising soluble    liraglutide.-   90. The method according to any one of embodiments 84-89, wherein    said fibrils are in a solution further comprising no other peptide    or protein other than liraglutide fibrils, and optionally soluble    liraglutide.-   91. An assay for selectively detecting liraglutide fibrils over    soluble and/or monomeric liraglutide comprising an antibody as    defined in any one of embodiments 37-81, wherein said antibody can    detect liraglutide fibrils at concentrations of 1-1000 ppm fibrils    in solution, such as 1-10 ppm fibrils, alternatively 10-100 ppm    fibrils, alternatively 100-1000 ppm fibrils.

EXAMPLES List of Abbreviations

-   -   PBS: Phosphate buffered saline (aqueous solution of 137 mM NaCl,        2.7 mM KCl, 10 mM Na₂HPO₄, 1.8 mM KH₂PO₄ adjusted to pH 7.4)    -   PES: Polyethersulfone    -   scFv-Fc: Single chain variable fragment linked to Fc domain    -   ThT: Thioflavin T

Materials and Methods Antibody Library Preparation, Sorting and Cloningof Selected Antibody Variants

The antibodies were isolated through two stages of library sorting. Inthe first stage of sorting, a single-chain variable fragment (scFv)yeast surface display library was generated by diversification of heavychain CDR3 (HCDR3) of the 4D5 scFv (Julian et al., 2019; Stimple et al.,2019; Tiller et al., 2017). The scFv's were genetically fused to theC-terminus of the yeast Aga2 protein through a flexible linker, enablingantibody display on the cell surface. Yeast-displayed antibody librarieswere sorted for binding to liraglutide fibrils (and soluble liraglutideas a control) immobilized on magnetic beads (Dynabeads M-280Tosylactivated, 14203, Invitrogen). To prepare the beads, 8×10⁷ beadswere first washed (2×) with 1 mL of sterile PBS. Soluble liraglutide(100 μg, from 6 mg/mL stock in drug composition buffer) was diluted intoPBS containing the magnetic beads (final volume of 800 μL) and coupledto the beads overnight (4° C. without agitation). For beads coated withfibrillar liraglutide, 100 μg of liraglutide fibrils was coupled to thebeads in 800 μL of PBS overnight at room temperature with end-over-endmixing. The following day, the beads were washed (2×) with 1 mL PBSsupplemented with 10 mM glycine in order to quench unreactedtoluenesulfonyl groups on the beads, and then washed (2×) using 1 mL PBSsupplemented with 1 g/L BSA (PBS-B) before incubation with yeast. Eightrounds of positive selections were performed against beads coated withliraglutide fibrils in PBS-B supplemented with 1% milk. In order toisolate yeast harboring conformationally-specific antibodies againstliraglutide fibrils, the final three rounds of sorting incorporatednegative selections performed against beads coated with solubleliraglutide in PBS-B prior to the positive selection against liraglutidefibrils.

In the second stage of library sorting (affinity maturation), asub-library was designed for one of the best clones from the first stageof sorting. The second-generation library diversified sites in LCDR1,LCDR3 and HCDR2. This library was subjected to four rounds of selectionagainst liraglutide fibrils. The first two rounds of sortingincorporated two sequential negative selections against solubleliraglutide (immobilized on magnetic beads) prior to a positiveselection against immobilized liraglutide fibrils. Negative selectionswere performed in PBS-B, while positive selections were conducted inPBS-B supplemented with 1% milk. We also performed three sequentialnegative selections in rounds 3 and 4 against beads coated with glucagonfibrils. The beads coated with glucagon fibrils were prepared aspreviously described (Stimple et al., 2019).

Selected antibodies were cloned into the mammalian expression vectoranti-Notch1_E6-pBIOCAM5, as described previously (Stimple et al., 2019).Briefly, the insert and the backbone plasmids were digested with NcoIand NotI, purified and ligated. The insertion of the scFv codingfragments was confirmed by Sanger sequencing. These plasmids express abivalent scFv-human Fc fusion protein with 6×His and 3×FLAG tags on theC-terminal of the antibodies.

Antibody Expression and Purification

Proteins were expressed with the Expi293F Expression System (CatalogNumber A14635). Expi293F cells were subcultured and expanded until thecells reached a density of approximately 3-5 million viable cells permL. Plasmids (30 μg) were transfected into 25 mL of Expi293 cells.Complexes of ExpiFectamine 293 and plasmid DNA were prepared asdescribed in the manufacturer's guidance. Briefly, plasmid DNA andExpiFectamine reagent were diluted with Opti-MEM medium and mixed viagentle pipetting. After 5 min of incubation, the diluted transfectionreagent was mixed with the diluted DNA. The complexes of transfectionreagent and DNA were incubated at room temperature for 20 min and addedto the Expi293 cells. Cells were incubated at 37° C. and 5% CO₂ withshaking. Per the manufacturer's instructions, enhancer 1 and 2 solutionswere added to the cells after 20 h (post transfection). After 3 d, themedia containing secreted antibody was harvested and centrifuged at3400×g for 45 min to remove the cells and associated debris.

Antibodies were purified using Protein A chromatography. Protein A beads(20334, Thermo Fisher Scientific) were washed with PBS and incubatedwith glycine buffer (pH 2.5) for 20 mins. Next, the beads were washedwith PBS and then 0.5 mL of beads were added to 30 mL of clarified mediaand incubated overnight at 4° C. On the following day, media withProtein A beads was added to a 10 mL purification column (89898, ThermoFisher Scientific). The beads were collected through vacuum filtrationand washed with PBS (100 mL) thoroughly. The Protein A beads were thenincubated with 2 mL of 0.1 M glycine buffer (pH 3.0) for 15 min and thebuffer (with eluted protein) was collected by centrifugation. The elutedantibodies were then buffer exchanged into PBS using Zeba Spin DesaltingColumns (89891, Thermo Fisher Scientific). Protein concentrations wereassayed via absorbance measurements at 280 nm (extinction coefficientsof 168,460-205,360 M⁻¹ cm⁻¹).

Size-Exclusion Chromatography

Analytical and preparative size-exclusion chromatography (SEC)experiments were performed using a Shimadzu Prominence HPLC System. Therunning buffer was 137 mM sodium chloride, 2.7 mM sodium-potassium, 10mM disodium hydrogen phosphate, 1.8 mM potassium dihydrogen phosphateand 200 mM arginine. The column flow rate was 0.75 mL/min. The antibodysamples (0.1 mg/mL) were injected (100 μL) into the column (GE 28990944,Superdex 200 Increase 10/300 GL column, 10 mm inner diameter, 300 mmlength), and absorbance signals were monitored at 220 and 280 nm. Forpreparative SEC, the monomeric fraction was isolated using an FRC-10Afraction collector.

Assay (I): Preparation of Liraglutide Fibrils

Test solution of 6 mg/mL liraglutide was prepared in drug compositionbuffer (14.0 mg/mL propylene glycol, 5.5 mg/mL phenol, 1.42 mg/mLdisodium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate) and final pH adjusted to 8.15using NaOH and/or HCl if needed, followed by syringe-filtering (0.22 μmPES filter). Aliquots of 1 mL liraglutide solution were distributed intomicrocentrifuge tubes, a single 3 mm glass bead (Sigma Z265926) added toeach tube, and the tubes incubated in a thermomixer at 37° C., orbitalshaking at 300 rpm for 15-20 days.

Positive ThT signal was used to monitor fibril formation by removal asmall sample of test solution from the tubes (˜75 μL) which was analyzedaccording to the Assay (V) (ThT Assay) described herein. When the sampleshowed at least 5-fold higher fluorescence than freshly prepared testsolution in the Assay (V) (ThT Assay) herein, then fibrils weresedimented at 221,000×g (1 hour, 4° C.). Fibrils, e.g. gel-like fibrils,were observed at the bottom of the tube. The supernatant was removedfrom the tube (keeping the supernatant for analysis by Assay (VII) (BCAAssay) herein). The pellet was gently washed with drug compositionbuffer at pH 8.15 once (without disturbing the pellet) and thenresuspended in the original volume of drug composition buffer at pH 8.15(taking into account any volume removed for ThT analysis) and stored at4° C. Concentration of fibrils was determined according to Assay (VII)herein; it is important to resuspend the fibril pellets in the exactsame total volume after centrifugation for this calculation to beaccurate.

Assay (II): Preparation of Semaglutide Fibrils

Test solution of 6 mg/mL semaglutide, optionally with 50 mM NaCl, anddrug composition buffer (14.0 mg/mL propylene glycol, 5.5 mg/mL phenol,1.42 mg/mL disodium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate) adjusted to pH 6.9(using NaOH and/or HCl if needed) was placed in aliquots of 1 mL inmicrocentrifuge tubes, a single 3 mm glass bead (Sigma Z265926) added toeach tube, and the tubes incubated in a thermomixer at 37° C., orbitalshaking at 300 rpm for 15-20 days.

Positive ThT signal was used to monitor fibril formation by removal asmall sample of test solution from the tubes (˜75 μL) which was analyzedaccording to the Assay (V) (ThT Assay) described herein. When the sampleshowed at least 5-fold higher fluorescence than freshly preparedsemaglutide in drug composition buffer at pH 6.9 in the Assay (V) (ThTAssay), then fibrils were sedimented at 221,000×g (1 hour, 4° C.).Fibrils, e.g. gel-like fibrils, were observed at the bottom of the tube.The supernatant was removed from the tube (keeping the supernatant foranalysis by Assay (VII) (BCA Assay)). The pellet was gently washed withdrug composition buffer at pH 6.9 once (without disturbing the pellet)and then resuspended in the original volume of drug composition bufferat pH 6.9 (taking into account any volume removed for ThT analysis) andstored at 4° C. Concentration of fibrils was determined according toAssay (VII) herein; it is important to resuspend the fibril pellets inthe exact same total volume after centrifugation for this calculation tobe accurate.

Assay (III): Antibody Specificity Ratio (Method 1)

Antibody specificity ratio was determined as follows:

-   1. ELISA plate preparation (3 plates):    -   a. For fibril-coated ELISA plate: Liraglutide fibrils prepared        according to Assay (1) herein were resuspended in drug        composition buffer (with fibril concentration determined by        Assay (VII) (BCA assay) herein), approx. 300 μL of sample        sonicated on ice in a microcentrifuge tube (3 cycles of 10 s        on/30 s off at 100% amplitude; FB-120 Sonic Dismembrator, Thermo        Fisher Scientific). The solution was diluted to 25 μM        liraglutide fibrils in PBS and 100 μL sample was distributed        into each well of a 96-well Nunc MaxiSorp ELISA plate (Product        number: 439454).    -   b. For soluble liraglutide-coated plate: 6 mg/mL liraglutide was        solubilized in drug composition buffer (14 mg/mL Propylene        Glycol, 5.5 mg/mL Phenol, 1.42 mg/mL disodium phosphate        dihydrate), pH adjusted to 8.15 using NaOH and/or HCl if needed,        and the solution was filtered through a 0.22 μm PES filter. The        solution was diluted to 25 μM liraglutide in PBS and 100 μL        sample was distributed into each well of a 96-well Nunc MaxiSorp        ELISA plate (Product number: 439454).        -   i. For “background” plate: 100 μL PBS was distributed into            each well of a 96-well Nunc MaxiSorp ELISA plate (Product            number: 439454).-   2. The plates were covered with adhesive film, wrapped in aluminum    foil, and incubated at 4° C. overnight.-   3. The next day, plates were washed three times by addition of 300    μL PBS to each well.-   4. The plates were blocked by addition of 300 μL PBS supplemented    with 0.1% Tween20 and 10 g/L BSA to each well. The plates were then    covered with adhesive film, wrapped in aluminum foil, and incubated    at room temperature for 3 hours.-   5. While the plates were being blocked, the antibody samples were    spinned in a centrifuge for 5 minutes at 21,000×g, and concentration    of the supernatant measured by absorbance at 280 nm. Each antibody    was serially diluted to 5 nM in PBS supplemented with 0.1% Tween20    and 1 g/L BSA.-   6. The plates were washed three times by addition of 300 μL PBS to    each well-   7. 100 μL of antibody solution was distributed into each well. Each    antibody was tested in duplicate (i.e. 2 wells for each antibody per    plate). The plates were then covered with adhesive film, wrapped in    aluminum foil, and incubated for 1 hour at room temperature.-   8. The secondary antibody solution was prepared by diluting the    secondary antibody (goat anti-human IgG-Fc HRP-conjugate, Invitrogen    A18817, stock concentration: 0.5 mg/mL in 50% glycerol) 1:1000 into    PBS supplemented with 0.1% Tween20 and 10 g/L BSA.-   9. The plates were washed three times by addition of 300 μL PBS to    each well.-   10. 100 μL of secondary antibody solution was distributed into each    well. The plates were then covered with adhesive film, wrapped in    aluminum foil, and incubated for 1 hour at room temperature. During    the secondary antibody incubation, 1-Step Ultra-TMB ELISA substrate    (Thermo Fisher Scientific, 34208) was removed from the refrigerator    to equilibrate the solution to room temperature and 2 M (4 N) H2SO4    was prepared.-   11. The plates were washed three times by addition of 300 μL PBS to    each well.-   12. 100 μL Ultra-TMB was added into each well and incubated until    yellow product was formed (5-10 minutes).-   13. Reaction was quenched by addition of 100 μL 2 M H₂SO₄.-   14. Absorbance of each well was read at 450 nm in microplate reader    (BioTek Synergy Neo).

Calculations: The ratio of the ELISA signal (absorbance at 450 nm) wascalculated for each antibody against fibril-coated plates to its signalagainst soluble liraglutide-coated plates and to the background plate.These ratios are the fibril/soluble ratio and fibril/background ratiosreported herein. For instance: if an antibody gave signals of 1.5 forliraglutide fibrils, 0.05 for soluble liraglutide, and 0.1 for thebackground plate then the fibril/soluble ratio would be 1.5/0.05=30 andthe fibril/background ratio would be: 1.5/0.1=15.

Assay (III-B): Antibody Specificity Ratio (Method 1B)

-   1. On the night before the assay: BSA was solubilized at 1 mg/mL in    PBS, then filter sterilized through a 0.22 μm PES filter with a 30    cc luer-lock syringe, and 150 μL of the solution distributed into    each well of a Nunc MaxiSorp (Product number: 439454) 96-well ELISA    plate. The plates were covered with adhesive film, wrapped in    aluminium foil, and incubated at 4° C. overnight.-   2. ELISA plates (coated with BSA) were removed from the refrigerator    and wells washed 3 times with 300 μL PBS.    -   a. For fibril-coated ELISA plate: Liraglutide fibrils prepared        according to Assay (I) herein were resuspended in drug        composition buffer (with fibril concentration determined by        Assay (VII) (BCA assay) herein), approx. 300 μL of sample        sonicated on ice in a microcentrifuge tube (3 cycles of 10 s        on/30 s off at 100% amplitude; FB-120 Sonic Dismembrator, Thermo        Fisher Scientific). The solution was diluted to 10 μM        liraglutide fibrils in PBS and 100 μL sample was distributed        into each well.    -   b. For soluble liraglutide-coated plate: 6 mg/mL liraglutide was        solubilized in drug composition buffer (14 mg/mL Propylene        Glycol, 5.5 mg/mL Phenol, 1.42 mg/mL disodium phosphate        dihydrate), pH adjusted to 8.15 using NaOH and/or HCl if needed,        and the solution was filtered through a 0.22 μm PES filter. The        solution was diluted to 10 μM liraglutide in PBS and 100 μL        sample was distributed into each well        -   i. For “background” plate: 100 μL PBS was distributed into            each well of a 96-well Nunc MaxiSorp ELISA plate (Product            number: 439454).-   3. The plates were covered with adhesive film, wrapped in aluminum    foil, and incubated without agitation for 3 hours at room    temperature.-   4. During this 3 hours, the antibody samples were spun in a    centrifuge for 5 minutes at 21,000×g, and concentration of the    supernatant measured by absorbance at 280 nm. Each antibody was    serially diluted to 5 nM (unless the concentration is stated    otherwise) in PBS supplemented with 0.1% Tween20 and 1 g/L BSA.-   5. The plates were washed three times by addition of 300 μL PBS to    each well.-   6. 100 μL of antibody solution was distributed into each well. The    plates were then covered with adhesive film, wrapped in aluminum    foil, and incubated for 1 hour at room temperature.-   7. The secondary antibody solution was prepared by diluting the    secondary antibody (goat anti-human IgG-Fc HRP-conjugate, Invitrogen    A18817, stock concentration: 0.5 mg/mL in 50% glycerol) 1:1000 into    PBS supplemented with 0.1% Tween20 and 10 g/L BSA.-   8. The plates were washed three times by addition of 300 μL PBST    (PBS supplemented with 0.1% Tween20) to each well.-   9. 100 μL of secondary antibody solution was distributed into each    well. The plates were then covered with adhesive film, wrapped in    aluminum foil, and incubated for 1 hour at room temperature. During    the secondary antibody incubation, 1-Step Ultra-TMB ELISA substrate    (Thermo Fisher Scientific, 34208) was removed from the refrigerator    to equilibrate the solution to room temperature and 2 M (4 N) H₂SO₄    was prepared.-   10. The plates were washed three times by addition of 300 μL PBST to    each well.-   11. 100 μL Ultra-TMB was added into each well and incubated until    yellow product was formed (5-10 minutes).-   12. Reaction was quenched by addition of 100 μL 2 M H₂SO₄.-   13. Absorbance of each well was read at 450 nm in microplate reader    (BioTek Synergy Neo). Calculations: The ratio of the ELISA signal    (absorbance at 450 nm) was calculated for each antibody against    fibril-coated plates to its signal against soluble    liraglutide-coated plates and to the background plate. These ratios    are the fibril/soluble ratio and fibril/background ratios reported    herein. For instance: if an antibody gave signals of 1.5 for    liraglutide fibrils, 0.05 for soluble liraglutide, and 0.1 for the    background plate then the fibril/soluble ratio would be 1.5/0.05=30    and the fibril/background ratio would be: 1.5/0.1=15.

Assay (IV): Antibody Specificity Ratio (Method 2)

Antibody specificity ratio was determined as follows:

On the night before the assay: BSA was solubilized at 1 mg/mL in PBS,then filter sterilized through a 0.22 μm PES filter with a 30 ccluer-lock syringe, and 150 μL of the solution distributed into each wellof a Nunc MaxiSorp (Product number: 439454) 96-well ELISA plate. Theplates were covered with adhesive film, wrapped in aluminium foil, andincubated at 4° C. overnight.

On the day of the assay:

-   1. Liraglutide was solubilized at 60 mg/mL in the drug composition    buffer (14 mg/mL Propylene Glycol, 5.5 mg/mL Phenol, 1.42 mg/mL    disodium phosphate dihydrate), pH adjusted to 8.15 using NaOH and/or    HCl if needed, and filtered through a 0.22 μm PES filter. The    solution was dilute to 6 mg/mL (1600 μM) liraglutide in PBS. This    solution is referred to as “solution of soluble liraglutide”.-   2. Liraglutide fibrils (hereafter: fibrils), obtained according to    Assay (I) herein, resuspended in drug composition buffer at pH 8.15    (with concentration of fibrils determined by Assay (VII) (BCA assay)    herein) in a sample of approx. 300 μL were sonicated on ice in a    microcentrifuge tube (3 cycles of 10 s on/30 s off at 100%    amplitude; FB-120 Sonic Dismembrator, Thermo Fisher Scientific).    This solution is referred to as “solution of fibrils”.-   3. The sonicated solution of fibrils was diluted into the solution    of soluble liraglutide, such that the final concentration of fibril    was 100 μM. The solution was then further serially diluted into    solution of soluble liraglutide to resulting samples of 0.1 μM    fibril. Two controls were used: i) PBS (no peptide), and ii) no    fibril (only solution of soluble liraglutide).-   4. ELISA plates (coated with BSA) were removed from the refrigerator    and wells washed 3 times with 300 μL PBS.-   5. 100 μL of each sample or control from (3) above was distributed    into the wells of the freshly-washed plate, and the plate was    covered with adhesive film, wrapped in aluminum foil, and incubated    at without agitation for 3 hours at room temperature.-   6. During the above 3 hour incubation, ˜75 μL of antibody to be    tested (e.g. scFv-Fc fusion protein) was spun at 21,000×g for 5    minutes to sediment any particulates. The supernatant was removed    and A280 nm of this supernatant was determined in order to calculate    the concentration of antibody. The antibody was serially diluted to    5 nM in PBS+0.1% Tween20+1 g/L BSA and kept on ice until use.-   7. At end of the 3 hour incubation, the well of the plates were    washed 3 times with 300 μL PBS.-   8. 100 μL of 5 nM antibody was added into each well. The plate was    covered with adhesive film, wrapped in aluminum foil, and incubated    at room temperature for 1 hour.-   9. During the above 1 hour incubation, the secondary antibody (goat    anti-human IgG-Fc HRP-conjugate, Invitrogen A18817, stock    concentration: 0.5 mg/mL in 50% glycerol) was diluted 1:1000 into    PBS+0.1% Tween20+10 g/L BSA.-   10. At end of the 1 hour incubation, the wells were washed 3 times    with 300 μL PBS.-   11. 100 μL of secondary antibody solution was added to each well.    The plate was covered with adhesive film, wrapped in aluminum foil,    and incubated at room temperature for 1 hour.-   12. During the secondary antibody incubation, 1-Step Ultra-TMB ELISA    substrate (Thermo Fisher Scientific, 34208) was removed from the    refrigerator to equilibrate the solution to room temperature. 2 M    (4 N) H₂SO₄ was prepared.-   13. At end of the 1 hour incubation, the wells were washed 3 times    with 300 μL PBS.-   14. 100 μL Ultra-TMB was added into each well and incubated for 10    minutes.-   15. Reaction was quenched by addition of 100 μL 2 M H₂SO₄.-   16. Absorbance at 450 nm was read in a microplate reader (BioTek    Synergy Neo). Calculations: ELISA signal for each antibody in wells    comprising fibrils was divided by the ELISA signal for that same    antibody in the control wells with soluble liraglutide and no    fibrils. This ratio is the mixture/soluble specificity ratio. For    instance: if a given antibody gave a signal of 1.5 for 0.1 μM    liraglutide fibrils in mixture with soluble liraglutide, and a    signal of 0.05 for soluble liraglutide (lacking fibrils): The    mixture/soluble specificity ratio would be 1.5/0.05=30.

Assay (V): ThT Assay

Test solution of peptide was analysed for presence of fibrilsimmediately after fibril formation. Peptide concentration prior tofibril formation was 6 mg/ml. The peptide may be liraglutide orsemaglutide. Liraglutide fibrils may be prepared according to Assay (I)herein. Semaglutide fibrils may be prepared according to Assay (II)herein. A 75 μL sample of the test solution was mixed with 1.36 μL ofThT stock solution (stock concentration: 2200 μM ThT) to achieve a finalThT concentration of 40 μM in the peptide/ThT mixture. For liraglutide,the final concentration in this mixture was 1571 μM liraglutide(calculated prior to fibrillation). A 50 μL sample of the peptide/ThTmixture was added to the wells of black 384-well plates (Fisherbrand 384Well Polystyrene Plates, 12566624, Thermo Fisher Scientific), and after5-10 minutes ThT fluorescence (λex=444 nm, λem=482 nm) values weremeasured using a Biotek Synergy Neo microplate reader.

Assay (VI): ThT Assay Compared to Antibody Assay

Detection of liraglutide fibrils in mixtures with soluble liraglutidewas determined with ThT detection methods compared to antibody assay.

-   1. Liraglutide was solubilized at 60 mg/mL in the drug composition    buffer (14 mg/mL Propylene Glycol, 5.5 mg/mL Phenol, 1.42 mg/mL    disodium phosphate dihydrate), pH adjusted to 8.15 using NaOH and/or    HCl if needed, and filtered through a 0.22 μm PES filter. The    solution was diluted to 6 mg/mL (1600 μM) liraglutide in PBS. This    solution is referred to as “solution of soluble liraglutide”.-   2. Liraglutide fibrils (hereafter: fibrils), obtained according to    Assay (I) herein, resuspended in drug composition buffer at pH 8.15    (with concentration of fibrils determined by Assay (VII) (BCA assay)    herein) in a sample of approx. 300 μL were sonicated on ice in a    microcentrifuge tube (3 cycles of 10 s on/30 s off at 100%    amplitude, FB-120 Sonic Dismembrator, Thermo Fisher Scientific).    This solution is referred to as “solution of fibrils”.-   3. The sonicated solution of fibrils was diluted into the solution    of soluble liraglutide, such that the final concentration of fibril    was 100 μM. The solution was then further serially diluted into    solution of soluble liraglutide to resulting samples of 0.001,    0.0025, 0.01, 0.025, 0.1, 0.25, 1, 2.5, 10, and 25 μM fibril. Two    controls were used: i) PBS (no peptide), and ii) no fibril (only    solution of soluble liraglutide)    -   a. At this point, the solutions obtained by diluting the        solution of fibrils into the solution of soluble liraglutide        (from step 3) were added (100 μL) to wells of ovalbumin-coated        ELISA plates and incubated for 2 hours at room temperature        before ELISA detection with antibodies of the invention. The        remaining ELISA protocol was performed as described in        Assay (IV) (step 7 onwards).-   4. The residual samples (mixtures of fibrils and soluble    liraglutide, as well as the PBS control and soluble liraglutide    control from step 3) were incubated in microcentrifuge tubes at room    temperature for 2.5 hours.-   5. A Thioflavin T (ThT) stock solution was prepared at a    concentration of 2200 μM. ThT was added to the samples (initially at    total peptide concentration of 1600 μM) to a final concentration of    40 μM, and a 50 μL sample of the peptide/ThT mixtures was added to    the wells of black 384-well plates (Fisherbrand 384 Well Polystyrene    Plates, 12566624, Thermo Fisher Scientific). ThT fluorescence    (λex=444 nm, λem=482 nm) values were measured for each sample using    a Biotek Synergy Neo microplate reader. The final (total) peptide    concentration in the peptide/ThT mixture was 1571 μM (calculated    prior to fibrillation).-   6. The fluorescence measurements for the solutions comprising    fibrils were divided by the fluorescence measurement for the    solution of soluble liraglutide (no fibril control), and the ratio    was reported as mixture/soluble ratio.

Assay (VI-B): ThT Assay Compared to Antibody Assay

Detection of liraglutide fibrils in mixtures with soluble liraglutidewas determined with ThT detection methods compared to antibody assay.

-   1. On the night before the assay: BSA was solubilized at 1 mg/mL in    PBS, then filter sterilized through a 0.22 μm PES filter with a 30    cc luer-lock syringe, and 150 μL of the solution distributed into    each well of a Nunc MaxiSorp (Product number: 439454) 96-well ELISA    plate. The plates were covered with adhesive film, wrapped in    aluminum foil, and incubated at 4° C. overnight.-   2. On the day of assay, liraglutide mixtures were immobilized to BSA    coated plate.    -   a. Liraglutide was solubilized at 60 mg/mL in the drug        composition buffer (14 mg/mL Propylene Glycol, 5.5 mg/mL Phenol,        1.42 mg/mL disodium phosphate dihydrate), pH adjusted to 8.15        using NaOH and/or HCl if needed, and filtered through a 0.22 μm        PES filter. The solution was diluted to 6 mg/mL (1600 μM)        liraglutide in PBS. This solution is referred to as “solution of        soluble liraglutide”.    -   b. Liraglutide fibrils (hereafter: fibrils), obtained according        to Assay (I) herein, resuspended in drug composition buffer at        pH 8.15 (with concentration of fibrils determined by Assay (VII)        (BCA assay) herein) in a sample of approx. 300 μL were sonicated        on ice in a microcentrifuge tube (3 cycles of 10 s on/30 s off        at 100% amplitude, FB-120 Sonic Dismembrator, Thermo Fisher        Scientific). This solution is referred to as “solution of        fibrils”.    -   c. The sonicated solution of fibrils was diluted into the        solution of soluble liraglutide, such that the final        concentration of fibril was 100 μM. The solution was then        further serially diluted into solution of soluble liraglutide to        resulting samples of 0.001, 0.0025, 0.01, 0.025, 0.1, 0.25, 1,        2.5, 10, and 25 μM fibril. Two controls were used: i) PBS (no        peptide), and ii) no fibril (only solution of soluble        liraglutide)    -   d. The solutions obtained by diluting the solution of fibrils        into the solution of soluble liraglutide were added (100 μL) to        wells of BSA-coated ELISA plates and incubated for 3 hours at        room temperature.-   3. The remaining ELISA protocol was performed as described for    Assay (VI) with some modifications.    -   a. During this 3 hours, the antibody samples were spun in a        centrifuge for 5 minutes at 21,000×g, and concentration of the        supernatant measured by absorbance at 280 nm. Each antibody was        serially diluted to 50 nM in PBS supplemented with 0.1% Tween20        (PBST).    -   b. The plates were washed three times by addition of 300 μL PBS        to each well.    -   c. 100 μL of antibody solution was distributed into each well.        The plates were then covered with adhesive film, wrapped in        aluminum foil, and incubated for 1 hour at room temperature.    -   d. The secondary antibody solution was prepared by diluting the        secondary antibody (goat anti-human IgG-Fc HRP-conjugate,        Invitrogen A18817, stock concentration: 0.5 mg/mL in 50%        glycerol) 1:1000 into PBS supplemented with 0.1% Tween20 and 10        g/L BSA.    -   e. The plates were washed three times by addition of 300 μL PBST        to each well.    -   f. 100 μL of secondary antibody solution was distributed into        each well. The plates were then covered with adhesive film,        wrapped in aluminum foil, and incubated for 1 hour at room        temperature. During the secondary antibody incubation, 1-Step        Ultra-TMB ELISA substrate (Thermo Fisher Scientific, 34208) was        removed from the refrigerator to equilibrate the solution to        room temperature and 2 M (4 N) H2SO4 was prepared.    -   g. The plates were washed three times by addition of 300 μL PBST        to each well.    -   h. 100 μL Ultra-TMB was added into each well and incubated until        yellow product was formed (5-10 minutes).    -   i. Reaction was quenched by addition of 100 μL 2 M H2SO4.    -   j. Absorbance of each well was read at 450 nm in microplate        reader (BioTek Synergy Neo).-   4. The residual samples (mixtures of fibrils and soluble    liraglutide, as well as the PBS control and soluble liraglutide    control from step 3) were incubated in microcentrifuge tubes at room    temperature for 2.5 hours.-   5. A Thioflavin T (ThT) stock solution was prepared at a    concentration of 2200 μM. ThT was added to the samples (initially at    total peptide concentration of 1600 μM) to a final concentration of    0.4 μM, and a 50 μL sample of the peptide/ThT mixtures was added to    the wells of black 384-well plates (Fisherbrand 384 Well Polystyrene    Plates, 12566624, Thermo Fisher Scientific). ThT fluorescence    (λex=444 nm, λem=482 nm) values were measured for each sample using    a Biotek Synergy Neo microplate reader. The final (total) peptide    concentration in the peptide/ThT mixture was 1571 μM (calculated    prior to fibrillation).-   6. The fluorescence measurements for the solutions comprising    fibrils were divided by the fluorescence measurement for the    solution of soluble liraglutide (no fibril control), and the ratio    was reported as mixture/soluble ratio.

Assay (VII): BCA Assay

Concentration of fibrils (e.g. liraglutide fibrils) was determined usingthe Pierce BCA Protein Assay Kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific, 23225) withliraglutide as the standard for liraglutide fibrils and semaglutide asthe standard for semaglutide fibrils (and not BSA). Since phenol fromthe drug composition buffer reacts with the BCA reagent to varyingdegree depending on sample dilution then controls were run forquantitation in order to account for background signal arising fromphenol. Concentration of fibrils in the resuspended fibril solution fromAssay (1) or Assay (II) herein was determined by subtracting the peptideconcentration in the supernatant (after ultracentrifugation) from theinitial concentration during fibril assembly (6 mg/mL). The analysis ofliraglutide fibrils was carried out as described in the following:

-   1. Liraglutide was dissolved at 6 mg/mL (6000 μg/mL) in drug    composition buffer, pH 8.15. This is referred to as “solution of    soluble liraglutide”.-   2. For standards, solution of soluble liraglutide was diluted    from (1) into PBS at the concentrations 2000, 1500, 1000, 750, 500,    250, 125, 25, and 0 μg/mL, and “blanks” that contained the same    amount of drug composition buffer, pH 8.15 diluted in PBS (but    lacking peptide) were prepared. For instance, to make 600 μL of the    2000 μg/mL standard would require 200 μL of the solution from (1)    and 400 μL PBS. To make the blank, 200 μL of drug composition buffer    (no peptide) and 400 μL of PBS was combined.-   3. The supernatant from the ultra-centrifuged fibrils (in drug    composition buffer, pH 8.15) obtained from Assay (1) herein was    diluted into PBS at the following dilutions: 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, 1:16,    1:32. “Blanks” were also prepared for these samples that contained    drug composition buffer, pH 8.15 diluted into PBS at the same    dilutions.-   4. To each well of a clear (no-binding or low-binding) flat-bottom    96-well plate, 10 μL of standard (and separate well with    corresponding blanks) and 10 μL of diluted sample (and separate    wells with corresponding blanks) was added.-   5. The BCA Working reagent was made up and 225 μL added into each    well and the plate covered with adhesive film.-   6. The plate was incubated at 37° C. until purple color formation    was adequate (this generally happens relatively quickly, and some    color is often visible in some samples almost immediately).-   7. Absorbance was read in a plate-reader at 562 nm.-   8. The “blank” absorbance values for the standards were subtracted    from the values for the standards. A standard curve was fitted to    the resulting (background-subtracted) absorbances by plotting    peptide concentration vs absorbance and fitting a 2^(nd) order    polynomial.-   9. The “blank” absorbance values for the supernatant were subtracted    from the values for the supernatant dilutions. Using the standard    curve from (8), the peptide concentration of the supernatant samples    was determined and multiplied by their dilution factor to calculate    the liraglutide concentration in the undiluted supernatant. Samples    with calculated concentrations in the range from ˜250-1000 μg/mL are    preferred (this is the middle of the accurate range for the BCA    assay).-   10. Since the fibrils were assembled at a concentration of 6 mg/mL    (6000 μg/mL), the peptide concentration of the supernatant was    subtracted from this to obtain the concentration of fibril in the    resuspended sample. It is important to resuspend the fibril pellets    in Assay (1) in the exact same total volume after centrifugation for    this calculation to be accurate.

Similar procedure may be used for semaglutide fibrils, except referencesto Assay (1) herein should be replaced by Assay (II) herein.

Results Example 1: Antibodies

Antibodies (scFv-Fc) with amino acid sequences as listed in Table 1 wereprepared by recombinant expression and purified.

Table 1 lists the full sequence of each antibody; bold text shows CDRlocations (shown in the order L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3, H-CDR1, H-CDR2,and H-CDR3); CDRs were defined according to the Kabat antibody numberingscheme. Table 2 lists the amino acid sequence of the variable region ofthe light chain (V_(L) Sequence), the variable region of the heavy chain(V_(H) Sequence) of the antibodies in Table 1. Table 3 lists the CDRs ofthe antibodies in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Antibody full sequence information Anti- body Full Sequence ADIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQGVSDAVSWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRFSGSRSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQHDTTPPTFGQGTKVEIKRTSPNSASHSGSAPQTSSAPGSQEVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFNIKDTYIHWVRQAPGKGLEWVARISPTGGYTRYAASVKGRFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCARDWFDAASFAWFDFYDYSDYWGQGTLVTVSSAAAHKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPGKGSHHHHHHKLDYKDHDGDYKDHDIDYKDDDDK (SEQ ID NO: 1) BDIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQDVDSAVNWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRFSGSRSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQHCTYPPTFGQGTKVEIKRTSPNSASHSGSAPQTSSAPGSQEVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFNIKDTYIHWVRQAPGKGLEWVARISPYDGNTRYAASVKGRFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCARDWFDAASFAWFDFYDYSDYWGQGTLVTVSSAAAHKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPGKGSHHHHHHKLDYKDHDGDYKDHDIDYKDDDDK (SEQ ID NO: 2) CDIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQDVSTAVTWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRFSGSRSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQHSTYPPTFGQGTKVEIKRTSPNSASHSGSAPQTSSAPGSQEVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFNIKDTYIHWVRQAPGKGLEWVARISPAGGTTRYAASVKGRFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCARDWFDAASFAWFDFYDYSDYWGQGTLVTVSSAAAHKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPGKGSHHHHHHKLDYKDHDGDYKDHDIDYKDDDDK (SEQ ID NO: 3) DDIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQIVSNAVTWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRFSGSRSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQHCTTPPTFGQGTKVEIKRTSPNSASHSGSAPQTSSAPGSQEVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFNIKDTYIHWVRQAPGKGLEWVARIYPDGGNTRYAGSVKGRFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCVRDWFDAASFAWFDFYDYSDYWGQGTLVTVSSAAAHKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPGKGSHHHHHHKLDYKDHDGDYKDHDIDYKDDDDK (SEQ ID NO: 4) EDIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQNVSDAVNWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRFSGSRSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQHYTNPPTFGQGTKVEIKRTSPNSASHSGSAPQTSSAPGSQEVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFNIKDTYIHWVRQAPGKGLEWVARITPTDGTTRYAVSVKGRFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAREWYEASYYDWFDYFDFSDYWGQGTLVTVSSAAAHKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPGKGSHHHHHHKLDYKDHDGDYKDHDIDYKDDDDK (SEQ ID NO: 5) FDIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQIVNYAVYWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRFSGSRSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFVTYYCQQHYTTPPTFGQGTKVEIKRTSPNSASHSGSAPQTSSAPGSQEVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFNIKDTYIHWVRQAPGKGLEWVARIAPTNGTTRYADSVKGRFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAREWYEASYYDWFDYFDFSDYWGQGTLVTVSSAAAHKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPGKGSHHHHHHKLDYKDHDGDYKDHDIDYKDDDDK (SEQ ID NO: 6) GDIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQGVTAAVAWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRFSGSRSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQHNTYPPTFGQGTKVEIKRTSPNSASHSGSAPQTSSAPGSQEVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFNIKDTYIHWVRQAPGKGLEWVARIAPTSGYTRYAVSVKGRFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAREWYEASYYDWFDYFDFSDYWGQGTLVTVSSAAAHKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPGKGSHHHHHHKLDYKDHDGDYKDHDIDYKDDDDK (SEQ ID NO: 7) HDIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQDVNTAVAWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRFSGSRSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQHYTTPPTFGQGTKVEIKRTSPNSASHSGSAPQTSSAPGSQEVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFNIKDTYIHWVRQAPGKGLEWVARIYPTNGYTRYADSVKGRFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAREVYDTSYFFWFDYYDYYDYWGQGTLVTVSSAAAHKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPGKGSHHHHHHKLDYKDHDGDYKDHDIDYKDDDDK (SEQ ID NO: 8) IDIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQDVNTAVAWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRFSGSRSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQHYTTPPTFGQGTKVEIKRTSPNSASHSGSAPQTSSAPGSQEVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFNIKDTYIHWVRQAPGKGLEWVARIYPTNGYTRYADSVKGRFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCARDWFDAASFAWFDFYDYSDYWGQGTLVTVSSAAAHKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPGKGSHHHHHHKLDYKDHDGDYKDHDIDYKDDDDK (SEQ ID NO: 9) JDIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQDVNTAVAWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRFSGSRSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQHYTTPPTFGQGTKVEIKRTSPNSASHSGSAPQTSSAPGSQEVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGENIKDTYIHWVRQAPGKGLEWVARIYPTNGYTRYADSVKGRFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAREWYEASYYDWFDYFDFSDYWGQGTLVTVSSAAAHKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPGKGSHHHHHHKLDYKDHDGDYKDHDIDYKDDDDK (SEQ ID NO: 10) KDIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQDVNTAVAWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRFSGSRSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQHYTTPPTFGQGTKVEIKRTSPNSASHSGSAPQTSSAPGSQEVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGENIKDTYIHWVRQAPGKGLEWVARIYPTNGYTRYADSVKGRFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAREWSDATYFYWFDFYDYSDYWGQGTLVTVSSAAAHKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPGKGSHHHHHHKLDYKDHDGDYKDHDIDYKDDDDK (SEQ ID NO: 11) LDIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQDVNTAVAWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRFSGSRSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQHYTTPPTFGQGTKVEIKRTSPNSASHSGSAPQTSSAPGSQEVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGENIKDTYIHWVRQAPGKGLEWVARIYPTNGYTRYADSVKGRFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCARELFDSSYFSWFDFYDYYDYWGQGTLVTVSSAAAHKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPGKGSHHHHHHKLDYKDHDGDYKDHDIDYKDDDDK (SEQ ID NO: 12) MDIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQSVAAAVAWYQQKPDKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRFSGSRSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQHNTYPPTFGQGTKVEIKRTSPNSASHSGSAPQTSSAPGSQEVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFNIKDTYIHWVRQAPGKGLEWVARISPSSGSTRYAGSVKGRFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAREWYEASYYDWFDYFDFSDYWGQGTLVTVSSAAAHKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPGKGSHHHHHHKLDYKDHDGDYKDHDIDYKDDDDK (SEQ ID NO: 109) NDIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQSVDYAVSWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRFSGSRSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQHNTTPPTFGQGTKVEIKRTSPNSASHSGSAPQTSSAPGSQEVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFNIKDTYIHWVRQAPGKGLEWVARIAPDNGTTRYAVSVKGRFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAREWYEASYYDWFDYFDFSDYWGQGTLVTVSSAAAHKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPGKGSHHHHHHKLDYKDHDGDYKDHDIDYKDDDDK (SEQ ID NO: 110)

TABLE 2 Antibody variable light chain (V_(L)) and variable heavy chain (V_(H)) amino acid sequence Anti- body V_(L) SequenceV_(H) Sequence A DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQGVSDEVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFNIKD AVSWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRFTYIHWVRQAPGKGLEWVARISPTGGYTRYAA SGSRSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQHDTSVKGRFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAV TPPTFGQGTKVEIK (SEQ ID NO: 13)YYCARDWFDAASFAWFDFYDYSDYWGQGTLV TVSS (SEQ ID NO: 14) BDIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQDVDS EVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFNIKDAVNWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRF TYIHWVRQAPGKGLEWVARISPYDGNTRYAASGSRSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQHCT SVKGRFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYPPTFGQGTKVEIK (SEQ ID NO: 15) YYCARDWFDAASFAWFDFYDYSDYWGQGTLVTVSS (SEQ ID NO: 16) C DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQDVSTEVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFNIKD AVTWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRFTYIHWVRQAPGKGLEWVARISPAGGTTRYAA SGSRSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQHSTSVKGRFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAV YPPTFGQGTKVEIK (SEQ ID NO: 17)YYCARDWFDAASFAWFDFYDYSDYWGQGTLV TVSS (SEQ ID NO: 18) DDIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQIVSN EVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFNIKDAVTWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRF TYIHWVRQAPGKGLEWVARTYPDGGNTRYAGSGSRSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQHCT SVKGRFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVTPPTFGQGTKVEIK (SEQ ID NO: 19) YYCVRDWFDAASFAWFDFYDYSDYWGQGTLVTVSS (SEQ ID NO: 20) E DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQNVSDEVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFNIKD AVNWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRFTYIHWVRQAPGKGLEWVARITPTDGTTRYAV SGSRSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQHYTSVKGRFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAV NPPTFGQGTKVEIK (SEQ ID NO: 21)YYCAREWYEASYYDWFDYFDFSDYWGQGTLV TVSS (SEQ ID NO: 22) FDIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQIVNY EVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFNIKDAVYWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRF TYIHWVRQAPGKGLEWVARIAPTNGTTRYADSGSRSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFVTYYCQQHYT SVKGRFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVTPPTFGQGTKVEIK (SEQ ID NO: 23) YYCAREWYEASYYDWFDYFDFSDYWGQGTLVTVSS (SEQ ID NO: 24) G DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQGVTAEVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFNIKD AVAWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRFTYIHWVRQAPGKGLEWVARIAPTSGYTRYAV SGSRSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQHNTSVKGRFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAV YPPTFGQGTKVEIK (SEQ ID NO: 25)YYCAREWYEASYYDWFDYFDFSDYWGQGTLV TVSS (SEQ ID NO: 26) HDIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQDVNT EVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFNIKDAVAWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRF TYIHWVRQAPGKGLEWVARTYPTNGYTRYADSGSRSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQHYT SVKGRFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVTPPTFGQGTKVEIK (SEQ ID NO: 27) YYCAREVYDTSYFFWFDYYDYYDYWGQGTLVTVSS (SEQ ID NO: 28) I DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQDVNTEVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFNIKD AVAWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRFTYIHWVRQAPGKGLEWVARTYPTNGYTRYAD SGSRSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQHYTSVKGRFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAV TPPTFGQGTKVEIK (SEQ ID NO: 29)YYCARDWFDAASFAWFDFYDYSDYWGQGTLV TVSS (SEQ ID NO: 30) JDIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQDVNT EVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFNIKDAVAWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRF TYIHWVRQAPGKGLEWVARTYPTNGYTRYADSGSRSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQHYT SVKGRFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVTPPTFGQGTKVEIK (SEQ ID NO: 31) YYCAREWYEASYYDWFDYFDFSDYWGQGTLVTVSS (SEQ ID NO: 32) K DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQDVNTEVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFNIKD AVAWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRFTYIHWVRQAPGKGLEWVARTYPTNGYTRYAD SGSRSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQHYTSVKGRFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAV TPPTFGQGTKVEIK (SEQ ID NO: 33)YYCAREWSDATYFYWFDFYDYSDYWGQGTLV TVSS (SEQ ID NO: 34) LDIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQDVNT EVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFNIKDAVAWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRF TYIHWVRQAPGKGLEWVARTYPTNGYTRYADSGSRSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQHYT SVKGRFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVTPPTFGQGTKVEIK (SEQ ID NO: 35) YYCARELFDSSYFSWFDFYDYYDYWGQGTLVTVSS (SEQ ID NO: 36) M DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQSVAAEVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFNIKD AVAWYQQKPDKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRFTYIHWVRQAPGKGLEWVARISPSSGSTRYAG SGSRSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQHNTSVKGRFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAV YPPTFGQGTKVEIK (SEQ ID NO: 111)YYCAREWYEASYYDWFDYFDFSDYWGQGTLV TVSS (SEQ ID NO: 112) NDIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQSVDY EVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFNIKDAVSWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRF TYIHWVRQAPGKGLEWVARIAPDNGTTRYAVSGSRSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQHNT SVKGRFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVTPPTFGQGTKVEIK (SEQ ID NO: 113) YYCAREWYEASYYDWFDYFDFSDYWGQGTLVTVSS (SEQ ID NO: 114)

TABLE 3 Antibody CDR sequences Anti- body H-CDR3 H-CDR2 H-CDR1 L-CDR3L-CDR2 L-CDR1 A DWFDAASFAW RISPTGGYTR DTYIH QQHDTTPPT SASFLYSRASQGVSDAVS FDFYDYSDY YAASVKG (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID(SEQ ID NO: 39) NO: 40) NO: 41) NO: 42) NO: 37) NO: 38) B DWFDAASFAWRISPYDGNTR DTYIH QQHCTYPPT SASFLYS RASQDVDSAVN FDFYDYSDY YAASVKG (SEQ ID(SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO: 45) NO: 46) NO: 47) NO: 48)NO: 43) NO: 44) C DWFDAASFAW RISPAGGTTR DTYIH QQHSTYPPT SASFLYSRASQDVSTAVT FDFYDYSDY YAASVKG (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID(SEQ ID NO: 51) NO: 52) NO: 53) NO: 54) NO: 49) NO: 50) D DWFDAASFAWRIYPDGGNTR DTYIH QQHCTTPPT SASFLYS RASQIVSNAVT FDFYDYSDY YAGSVKGDTYIH (SEQ (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID ID NO: 57) NO: 58)NO: 59) NO: 60) NO: 55) NO: 56) E EWYEASYYDW RITPTDGTTR DTYIH QQHYTNPPTSASFLYS RASQNVSDAVN FDYFDFSDY YAVSVKG (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID(SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO: 63) NO: 64) NO: 65) NO: 66) NO: 61) NO: 62) FEWYEASYYDW RIAPTNGTTR DTYIH QQHYTTPPT SASFLYS RASQIVNYAVY FDYFDFSDYYADSVKG (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO: 69) NO: 70)NO: 71) NO: 72) NO: 67) NO: 68) G EWYEASYYDW RIAPTSGYTR DTYIH QQHNTYPPTSASFLYS RASQGVTAAVA FDYFDFSDY YAVSVKG (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID(SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO: 75) NO: 76) NO: 77) NO: 78) NO: 73) NO: 74) HEVYDTSYFFW RIYPTNGYTR DTYIH QQHYTTPPT SASFLYS RASQDVNTAVA FDYYDYYDYYADSVK (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO: 81) NO: 82)NO: 83) NO: 84) NO: 79) NO: 80) I DWFDAASFAW RIYPTNGYTR DTYIH QQHYTTPPTSASFLYS RASQDVNTAVA FDFYDYSDY YADSVKG (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID(SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO: 87) NO: 88) NO: 89) NO: 90) NO: 85) NO: 86) JEWYEASYYDW RIYPTNGYTR DTYIH QQHYTTPPT SASFLYS RASQDVNTAVA FDYFDFSDYYADSVKG (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO: 93) NO: 94)NO: 95)  NO: 96) NO: 91) NO: 92) K EWSDATYFYW RIYPTNGYTR DTYIH QQHYTTPPTSASFLYS RASQDVNTAVA FDFYDYSDY YADSVKG (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID(SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO: 99) NO: 100) NO: 101) NO: 102) NO: 97) NO: 98) LELFDSSYFSW RIYPINGYIR DTYIH QQHYTTPPT SASFLYS RASQDVNTAVA FDFYDYYDYYADSVKG (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO: 105)NO: 106) NO: 107) NO: 108) NO: 103) NO: 104) M EWYEASYYDW RISPSSGSTRDTYIH QQHNTYPPT SASFLYS RASQSVAAAVA FDYFDFSDY YAGSVKG (SEQ ID (SEQ ID(SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO: 117) NO: 118) NO: 119) NO: 120)NO: 115) NO: 116) N EWYEASYYDW RIAPDNGTTR DTYIH QQHNTTPPT SASFLYSRASQSVDYAVS FDYFDFSDY YAVSVKG (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID(SEQ ID NO: 123) NO: 124) NO: 125) NO: 126) NO: 121) NO: 122)

Example 2: Liraglutide Fibril Specificity of Antibodies

Antibodies of Example 1 were individually tested for their ability tobind to liraglutide fibrils compared to background and/or solubleliraglutide. Test were carried out according to Assay (III) or Assay(IV) as defined herein. The results are shown in Tables 4 and 5.

TABLE 4 Liraglutide fibril specificity of antibodies determinedaccording to Assay (III) described herein using 25 μM liraglutide fibrilconcentration Antibody Specificity Ratio Liraglutide fibril/ Liraglutidefibril/ Antibody Background Soluble liraglutide H 25.3 31.7 I 23.6 26.8J 17.1 22.8 K 16.1 24.0 L 16.6 25.2

TABLE 5 Liraglutide fibril specificity of antibodies determined in amixture with soluble liraglutide according to Assay (IV) describedherein using 0.1 μM liraglutide fibril concentration AntibodySpecificity Ratio (Liraglutide fibril in mixture/ Antibody Solubleliraglutide) A 8.44 B 21.5 C 24.3 D 30.7 E 37.1 F 40.4 G 35.8 I 4.03 J2.77

Results in Table 4 and 5 show that the antibodies tested bindliraglutide fibrils significantly more than soluble liraglutide. Resultsin Table 4 also shows that the antibodies tested bind liraglutidefibrils significantly more than the background. Results in Table 5 showsthat the antibodies tested are also able to bind liraglutide fibrilssignificantly more when tested in a mixture of high concentrations ofsoluble liraglutide.

Example 3: Sensitivity for Detection of Liraglutide Fibrils—AntibodiesCompared to ThT Assay

The ThT assay was tested for its ability to bind to liraglutide fibrilsin a mixture with excess of soluble liraglutide in order to allow acomparison of sensitivity with the antibodies of the invention. Theexperiment was carried out according to Assay (VI) herein. Results areshown in Table 6.

TABLE 6 Sensitivity for detection of liraglutide fibrils; resultsreported as Specificity Ratio (liraglutide fibril in mixture/solubleliraglutide). Detection method Liraglutide fibril Antibody concentration(μM) ThT I J 0.001 1.03 1.03 1.08 0.0025 1.02 1.29 1.41 0.01 0.992 1.472.52 0.025 0.996 2.80 3.08 0.1 1.02 5.36 4.94 0.25 1.07 9.15 7.64 1 1.1913.5 11.1 2.5 1.44 15.9 13.3 10 2.55 24.6 >40 25 4.96 >40 >40 “>40”indicates that the result was higher than what could be quantified

Example 4: Concentration-Dependent Binding Analysis of LiraglutideAntibodies

Antibodies were prepared as described in section “Antibody expressionand purification”. Antibodies E, M and N were two-step purified atyields>20 mg/L. The purified antibodies were predominantly monomeric, asdemonstrated by analytical size-exclusion chromatography (>95% monomerfor E, M and N; FIG. 1). The sensitivity of the assay using the two-steppurified antibodies (>95% monomer) was also enhanced by removal of BSAduring the primary antibody incubation. These changes resulted inimproved Assay (III-B).

Antibodies E, M and N of Example 1 were two-step purified (>95% monomer)and individually tested for their ability to bind to liraglutide fibrilscompared to background and/or soluble liraglutide. Test were carried outaccording to Assay (III-B) herein. The results are shown in Table 7 (raw(non-background subtracted) antibody binding signals for aggregated andsoluble liraglutide) and Table 8 (Liraglutide fibril specificity ofantibodies (Liraglutide fibril/Monomer liraglutide)). Three independentexperiments were performed, and the reported values are averages.

TABLE 7 Antibody binding signals for aggregated and soluble liraglutidefor two-step purified antibodies. Antibody Liraglutide fibril (Monomeror fibril) concentration E M N E M N (μM) (monomer) (monomer) (monomer)(fibril) (fibril) (fibril) 0.01 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.03 0.050.04 0.05 0.07 0.07 0.06 0.10 0.05 0.04 0.05 0.07 0.07 0.06 0.30 0.050.05 0.05 0.07 0.09 0.07 1 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.08 3 0.05 0.050.05 0.16 0.30 0.09 10 0.08 0.06 0.05 0.34 0.73 0.15 30 0.15 0.10 0.050.84 1.69 0.29 100 0.32 0.21 0.06 2.08 2.78 0.63 300 0.51 0.46 0.09 3.053.15 1.87

TABLE 8 Liraglutide fibril specificity of antibodies (Liraglutidefibril/ Liraglutide monomer) for two-step purified antibodies.Liraglutide fibril Antibody concentration (μM) E M N 0.01 1.30 1.39 1.410.03 1.40 1.58 1.32 0.1 1.51 1.61 1.31 0.3 1.62 1.90 1.47 1 2.01 3.211.62 3 3.04 5.90 1.86 10 4.35 11.69 3.01 30 5.59 16.34 5.57 100 6.6013.05 10.04 300 5.93 6.81 21.09

Results in Table 7 and 8 show that the antibodies tested bindliraglutide fibrils significantly more than soluble liraglutide.

It was also observed that using highly purified antibodies (>95%monomer) in the assay has the advantage of making Assay (III-B) morereproducible than previous Assay (III) that used one-step purifiedantibody (>5% antibody aggregate) because it is easier to control theamount of antibody aggregate in different batches of two-step purifiedantibody (>95% monomer). The removal of antibody aggregates usingsize-exclusion chromatography reduced the antibody sensitivity at lowantibody concentrations because antibody aggregates contributed tobinding to liraglutide fibrils. However, the increased antibody purityenabled the use of higher antibody concentrations due to lowerbackground signal, which enabled improved assay sensitivity.

Example 5: Sensitivity for Detection of Liraglutide Fibrils—AntibodiesCompared to ThT Assay

Antibodies were prepared as described in section “Antibody expressionand purification”. Antibodies E, M and N were two-step purified atyields>20 mg/L. The purified antibodies were predominantly monomeric, asdemonstrated by analytical size-exclusion chromatography (>95% monomerfor E, M and N; FIG. 1). The sensitivity of the assay using the two-steppurified antibodies (>95% monomer) was also enhanced by removal of BSAduring the primary antibody incubation and increase of the antibodyconcentration (from 5 to 50 nM), resulting in improved Assay (VI-B).

The ThT assay was tested for its ability to bind to liraglutide fibrilsin a mixture with excess of soluble liraglutide in order to allow acomparison of sensitivity with the antibody M of the invention. Theexperiment was carried out according to Assay (VI-B) herein. Results areshown in Table 9.

TABLE 9 Sensitivity for detection of liraglutide fibrils for two-steppurified antibody M (>95% monomer) using Assay (VI-B); results reportedas Specificity Ratio (liraglutide fibril in mixture/solubleliraglutide), ThT concentration = 0.4 μM. Liraglutide fibril Detectionmethod concentration Antibody (μM) ThT M 0.001 1.08 1.43 0.0025 1.072.45 0.010 1.14 6.81 0.025 1.26 14.39 0.100 2.00 32.07 0.250 3.54 40.761.000 11.9 46.62 2.500 27.7 48.28

Results in Table 9 show that sensitivity of antibodies of the inventionfor detecting liraglutide fibrils are several magnitudes greater thanthe ThT Assay. In addition, it was also found that antibodies of theinvention detected liraglutide fibrils at concentrations of the fibrilswhere no signal was registered in the ThT Assay.

It was also observed that using highly purified antibodies (>95%monomer) in the assay has the advantage of making Assay (VI-B) morereproducible than previous Assay (VI) that used one-step purifiedantibody (>5% antibody aggregate) because it is easier to control theamount of antibody aggregate in different batches of two-step purifiedantibody (>95% monomer). The removal of antibody aggregates usingsize-exclusion chromatography reduced the antibody sensitivity at lowantibody concentrations (e.g., 5 nM) because antibody aggregatescontributed to binding to liraglutide fibrils. However, the increasedantibody purity enabled the use of higher antibody concentrations (50 nMinstead of 5 nM) due to lower background signal, which enabled improvedassay sensitivity.

Example 6: Reproducibility for Antibodies Having Purity of >95% Monomer

Antibody M of Example 1 were two-step purified (>95% monomer) and testedfor its ability to bind to liraglutide fibrils in the presence of excesssoluble liraglutide compared to soluble liraglutide. Tests were carriedout according to Assay (VI-B) herein. Two different batches of antibodywere tested and a total of four independent experiments were performed.The results are shown in Table 10.

TABLE 10 Sensitivity for detection of liraglutide fibrils fordouble-sorted antibody M using Assay (VI-B); results reported asSpecificity Ratio (liraglutide fibril in mixture/soluble liraglutide),ThT concentration = 0.4 μM. Liraglutide fibril M, M, M, M, concentration1^(st) batch, 1^(st) batch, 1^(st) batch, 2^(nd) batch, (μM) 1^(st) exp2^(nd) exp 3^(rd) exp 4^(th) exp Average 0.001 1.75 1.26 1.40 1.33 1.430.0025 3.53 1.66 2.16 2.45 2.45 0.01 9.61 5.23 5.74 6.65 6.81 0.02518.23 13.70 12.83 12.79 14.39 0.1 34.82 31.40 31.61 30.46 32.07 0.2544.77 39.44 39.51 39.33 40.76 1 47.72 47.99 45.49 45.26 46.62 2.5 50.3750.36 46.59 45.79 48.28 10 50.82 53.28 46.53 44.13 48.69 25 47.45 52.5244.45 42.12 46.64

Results in Table 10 show that using highly purified antibodies (>95%monomer) in the assay leads to very reproducible results.

While certain features of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, andequivalents will now occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. It is,therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended tocover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spiritof the invention.

1. An antibody of SEQ ID NO: 109, or an antigen-binding fragmentthereof, comprising: a heavy chain variable region comprising a CDR1, aCDR2, and a CDR3 sequence (H-CDR1, H-CDR2 and H-CDR3) and a light chainvariable region of said antibody comprises a CDR1, a CDR2, and a CDR3sequence (L-CDR1, L-CDR2 and L-CDR3) that is: SEQ ID NO: 120, 119, and118 (H-CDR1, H-CDR2, and H-CDR3) and SEQ ID NO: 117, 116, and 115(L-CDR1, L-CDR2, and L-CDR3); and wherein the antibody binds liraglutidefibrils.
 2. An assay for selectively detecting liraglutide fibrils oversoluble and/or monomeric liraglutide comprising an antibody, or anantigen-binding fragment thereof, as defined in claim 1, wherein saidassay can sensitively detect liraglutide aggregates at lowconcentrations such as 1-10 ppm fibrils, alternatively 10-100 ppmfibrils, alternatively 100-1000 ppm fibrils.
 3. The antibody, or anantigen-binding fragment thereof, according to claim 1, wherein saidantibody comprises a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 109 having about 80%, about81%, about 82%, about 83%, about 84%, about 85%, about 86%, about 87%,about 88%, about 89%, about 90%, about 91%, about 92%, about 93%, about94%, about 95%, about 96%, about 97%, about 98%, or about 99% sequenceidentity.
 4. Method for identifying and/or quantifying liraglutidefibrils, said method comprising the steps of a) binding the antibody, oran antigen-binding fragment thereof, as defined in claim 1 toliraglutide. b) optionally detecting antibody bound to liraglutidefibrils. c) optionally quantifying antibody bound to liraglutidefibrils, optionally by use of a standard of said fibril.